Brown, Robert Albert John ‘Bob Sailor’

Born in Great Yarmouth on 7 November 1915, Sailor Brown an Inside-forward who started his career with Gorleston Town in 1932 and signed professional forms with Charlton Athletic in August 1934. His guested for Wolves in March 1945 and made just the one appearance at home to Aston Villa. He also guested for Aldershot, Chelsea, East Fife, Huddersfield Town, Leicester City, Luton Town, Manchester City, Millwall, Newcastle United, West Ham United and York City. He went on to make 191 appearances, scoring 63 goals for Charlton Athletic of which 128 appearances and 39 goals came during the Second World War. He netted one hat-trick at home to Clapham Orient in November 1939 and picked up a FA Cup runners-up medal in 1946. During the hostilities he gained two League South Cup runners-up medals with Charlton Athletic in 1944 and 1945. He transferred to Nottingham Forest in May 1946 and ended his first season as top scorer before moving to Aston Villa in October 1947 after 49 appearances and 17 goals. His two seasons at Villa Park saw him net nine times in 31 appearances. He International career saw him in the summer of 1939 tour South Africa with the F.A. and appeared in one test match and make seven appearance for England in the wartime/victory international in 1945 and 1946. He also skippered the RAF team against Norway, Denmark and Sweden. He retired from professional football in 1949 after fracturing his jaw. During the war years he served the Greenwich Auxiliary Police (September 1939 to January 1940), before joining the RAF. He rejoined Gorleston Town as player manager in June 1949, a position he held until May 1956. He went onto run a sports shop business and a betting shop in Gorleston and finally retired from work in 1982.

Career League Appearances: 122, Goals: 47.