Jack Brownsword
Born: May 15 1923, Campshall Died: December 20 2009, Burton upon Stather.
Jack Brownsword gave wonderful service to the Iron, going down in the history books for his record number of appearances for the club. He arrived at the Old Show Ground after joining them from Frickley Colliery while they were still in the Midland League.
He had started his Football League career at Hull City, where he played less than a dozen games in the first post-war season at Boothferry Park. Brownsword made his League debut for the Tigers in the 5-1 defeat at Chester on September 21 1946, he went on to make 10 consecutive League appearances for Hull .
His last League game in Hull colours came on November 23 1946 in the 2-0 away defeat at Stockport, his last appearance for Hull was in the home 0-0 draw with New Brighton in the FA Cup first round one week later.
Major Frank Buckley, the Hull manager, decided that the ex-colliery worker would not make the grade in the Football League released him. He rejoined Frickley Colliery,
If any further proof was needed that even the most discerning and experienced manager is liable to make mistakes, surely this is it. Brownsword did not merely make the grade: he rose above the run-of-the-mill players to win a special niche for himself in football’s hall of fame.
Back with Frickley Colliery, Brownsword impressed in a Midland League game against Scunthorpe and was offered a move to the Old Showground. He was signed for the Iron for the pricely sum of £2 plus expenses.
He made his Midland League debut at home on August 28 1947 against Scarborough, which ended in a 1-0 victory for Scunthorpe, with Brownsword scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
The Iron finished the season as Midland League runners-up behind Shrewsbury Town, also reaching the FACup first round before losing away to Runcorn.
In his second season at the Old Showground the Iron finished fourth in the League but hit the headlines in the FA Cup by knocking out Halifax Town from the Third Division 1-0 after a scoreless draw at Halifax, before losing to Stockport at home 1-0 in the second round.
In the season before Scunthorpe were elected to the League, the 1949/50 campaign, Brownsword did not miss a League or Cup game all season, as the Iron finished third in the Midland League behind the reserve teams of Nottingham Forest and Grimsby Town.
Election to the Football League brought the offer of professionalism to several Iron players, including Brownsword who turned his back on life down the pit and earned £9 a week.
He was part of the Iron side that drew 0-0 with Shrewsbury Town on August 11 1950, the match was the first Football League game for both sides.
The Scunthorpe team that day was:- Thompson, Barker, Brownsword, Allen, Taylor , McCormick, Mosby, Payne, Gorin, Rees and Boyes.
One of the many surprising things about Brownsword’s extraordinary playing career is that he was seldom injured and missed less than 30 games in 14 Football League seasons.
He appeared in every fixture in five League seasons - 50/51, 51/52, 53/54, 58/59 and 59/60 – as he had in the Midlands League in 49/50. He missed one game in three other seasons.
Another fact worth mentioning is his FACup appearance record, as from the time he joined the Iron in 1947, he was never to miss a tie until he retired as a player in 1964. His last game in United’s colours was at home in the 1-1 draw with Workington on September 29 1964, at 42 years of age, 17 years after making his debut.
After retiring from playing he became United’s first-team trainer in July 1965, he had already started as assistant trainer-coach at the start of the 1964/65 season and continued his loyal service until January 1972, when he was sacked.
“Nobody ever told me why I was sacked but my understanding was that a coach had written to the club asking if there were any vacancies and I created a vacancy. I asked the directors about it and they offered me a testimonial match as compensation, something I have never had. I was not too happy about that because it would have meant the supporters having to pay for it and I did not think that was fair. I was exceptionally disappointed that after all the service, I was dispensed with in this way.”
- Jack Brownsword
It was in his days on the club’s backroom staff that he influenced the career of a young Kevin Keegan. He became a sales rep for Solaglass in Scunthorpe, until his retirement in May 1988. He also became a vice-president of the Iron.
PART TWO OF THIS JACK BROWNSWORD TRIBUTE WILL APPEAR ON CHRISTMAS EVE, WITH THE FINAL ARTICLE ON CHRISTMAS DAY