Biography
Sturdy defender Wayne Brown was the last of several Colchester United players to switch to Hull City when Phil Brown (not his ex-Colchester predecessor Phil Parkinson) secured his signature in July 2007. Brown’s first (and only) full season saw him combine superbly with centre back partner Michael Turner as the Tigers launched a successful push towards the Premier League. A consistent presence, Brown’s most memorable moment came in the closing seconds of the Wembley play-off, when Boaz Myhill caught Bristol City’s final hail-mary cross and Brown leapt on the keeper’s shoulders with cavorting excitement. Promoted to the Premier League, Wayne Brown played only once more in the League for the Tigers in an ill-fated 0-5 reverse at home to Wigan. Weeks later he was loaned to Preston and then Leicester, for whom he signed permanently the following summer.
Barking-born Brown (his white working class roots saw him dabble with right wing politics after his playing career had ended) began his career at Ipswich, but in his mid-20s he switched to Watford. Only when he moved to Colchester United two years later did he become a first team fixture at the age of 26, and he was a fulcrum of that successful U’s side.
A season at Leicester followed his time at Hull City, then a further season at Preston North End. A brief spell at non-League Bury Town saw the end of his playing career, and he soon moved into coaching at Colchester United (where he was briefly caretaker first team manager in 2015). In May 2018 Brown became manager of Isthmian League side Maldon & Tiptree, while retaining a coaching job in the Colchester United academy. He was still the manager at Maldon & Tiptree during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which led to the suspension of Isthmian League fixtures. Temporarily free of his duties at Maldon, Brown was appointed caretaker manager of Colchester United in February 2021, a job he did again on a caretaker basis in January and February 2022. In May 2022 Brown was finally handed the permanent manager’s job at Colchester United, ending his association with Maldon, but he was dismissed in September 2022 after a run of poor form.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 20 August 1977, Barking
Hull City First Game: 15 August 2007, Crewe Alexandra A (League Cup First Round), 29 years, 360 days old
Hull City Final Game: 30 August 2008, Wigan Athletic H (Premier League), 31 years, 10 days old
Clubs
Ipswich Town (1995-2002), Colchester United (1997, loan), Queens Park Rangers (2001, loan), Wimbledon (2001, loan), Watford (2002, loan), Watford (2002-2004), Gillingham (2003, loan), Colchester United (2004, loan), Colchester United (2004-2007), Hull City (2007-2009), Preston North End (2008, loan), Leicester City (2009, loan), Leicester City (2009-2010), Preston North End (2010-2011), Bury Town (2011)
Hull City Record
Career: 49 apps, 1 goals
Wayne Brown| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007/08 | 41 (0) | 1 | - | - | 3 (0) | 0 | - | - | 3 (0) | 0 |
| 2008/09 | 1 (0) | 0 | - | - | 1 (0) | 0 | - | - | - | - |