By Nathan Jackson
June 10 2010

Grant Brown has been placed in charge of Lincoln City's Youth Department after the departure of Tom Spall earlier in the week. It continues Brown's near continuous 21 year link with the Imps as player, coach and now youth coach.

Brown is the only outfield player to have played for the Imps during the 21st Century that can genuinely be called a Lincoln City Legend. He played 469 times for the Imps between 1989 and 2002 after joining from Leicester. That total would have certainly been more had it not been for breaking his leg in a home game with Hull in the 2000/1 season.

The only reason he was released was because the club went into administration in 2002. His release had come just weeks after breaking the club's League appearance record in a 2-0 defeat at York City and just hours before the club appeared at the High Court in Birmingham. He went into the non-League and played for Telford, Alfreton and Grantham.

Brown has been back at the club for some time in the coaching staff and was even one of the favourites to take over from John Schofield in 2007, although Brown denied ever being interested.

He has a tough challenge ahead of him though in his new role, and he knows it. He told the BBC "We want to be filling the first team with more home grown players. That is how the club moves forward. I have lived in the city for 20 years and I take a great deal of pride in the club and what happens here."

There was a period during the last five years where youth teamers were making it into the first team on a regular basis, mainly thanks to Peter Jackson who certainly wasn't afraid to give youth their chance. However, youngsters with real quality have been few and far between in recent years.

Jack Hobbs is the most high profile product in recent years, securing a move to Liverpool a few months after playing his only match in a City shirt, a three minute cameo against Bristol Rovers in January 2005. He has gone on to captain Leicester City. The only other truly successful products of the youth team in recent years have been Lee Frecklington and Scott Loach, both playing in the Championship last season.

Danny Hone is currently the only player from the youth team with a realistic chance of getting in the first team picture. Nathan Adams and Andy Hutchinson have both been on the fringes for some time, but neither have really made the impact they would have hoped.

Legend Brown placed in charge of Youth Department

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 10/06/2010 00:03

theimps.ka
10/06/2010 00:03

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net