Brownsword was the Iron’s penalty king of the fifties and sixties, as he successfully converted a staggering 49 out of 50 in the League from the spot to became the first full-back to score 50 goals.
Although Brownsword had played in nearly every game since entering the Football League, he had to wait more than two years for his first penalty. It came in a 2-0 home win over York City on Ovtober 11 1952. He netted four more times from the spot that season.
From 52/53 to 63/64 his trusty right foot rarely missed, netting 36 goals at home and 13 away. Hhis strikes were made against 35 different teams, beating some of the best goalkeepers around at his time.
Brownsword also has the distinction of having scored the most penalties for the Iron in one season, when he scored nine during 1953/54. This included four in six games which finished with his equaliser against Darlington in a 1-1 draw at home on Christmas Day.
During United’s Division Three (North) championship winning 1957/58 season he held his nerve to convert six times from the spot, including two in one game in a 6-2 triumph at home to Bradford Park Avenue on October 16 1957.
In the Second Division he held onto the penalty taking responsibility, and in six seasons netted 23 times out of 23 from the spot.
His final penalty came for the Iron in a 3-2 home win over Derby County on March 20 1964, as Scunthorpe were about to be relegated from Division Two.
In his long playing career with the Iron Brownsword only failed once from the penalty spot. That was in an FA Cup fourth round replay at home to Liverpool on February 6 1956: Tommy Younger palmed the ball away as United lost 2-1 after drawing 3-3 in the first meeting at Anfield.
“We were losing 2-1 when it happened. Tommy stood in the middle of the goal. But, as the ball left my foot, down he went to his right-and brought off a magnificent save.” - Jack Brownsword
As soon as the referee pointed to the spot, Brownsword would stroll up. He would take a second or two to place the ball, then moved back three or four paces, before gently stroking it low to the goalkeeper’s right, out of the keepers reach into the corner of the net.
“I always aimed for the same spot, the space between the angle of the post and the iron stanchion. In fact, the local press photographer at Scunthorpe used to go and take up position there whenever I took a penalty. I had to ask him not to make it obvious.” - Brownsword
Brownsword was never ruffled, even when the the Charlton goalkeeper Willie Duff stood a foot away from his right hand side post, leaving a vast expanse for Brownsword to aim at, it didn’t change his formula. As the ball was struck Duff dived across the face of his goal to his left, only to outwitted by the wily old Jack who placed it in his normal position. So as Duff went one way, the ball went the other, on its usual way into the back of the net.
There was one other occasion when a Brownsword spot-kick was saved. It came in a 3-3 draw with Bristol City at the Old Showground, but the referee judged the visiting keeper to have moved too early. Jackie tried again, but with the same result. Once again, to the frustration of the keeper, the referee said he had moved before the kick was taken. This time at the third attempt, Peter Donnelly stepped forward to take it and scored.
Brownsword’s solitary goal that did not come from the penalty spot came in the 2-1 home defeat against Southampton on February 22 1964, unfortunately it was not the result of a scorching shot but a misdirected left wing cross aimed for the forwards of Ken Hodgson and Ian Lawther. It finished in the back of the net past the embarrassed Saints keeper Tony Godfrey.
It as also to be noted that in his long football career it is to his credit that he never received a booking. His biggest disappointment came in 1961 when the club sold star striker Barrie Thomas to Newcastle United.
“At Christmas, we were top of the Second Division and I am certain that if we had not sold Barrie we would have been in the First Division. The directors at the time said we could not afford to go into the top flight and that disillusioned the players.” - Brownsword
It seems odd that Jackie’s talents where never fully recognised. When in his prime, the only honour he received was to be selected by the representive committee who appointed the team for the annual Third Division North versus Third Division South game.
He was given the honour of being selected five times to represent the North, but only played twice because Scunthorpe wanted him for important games or due to injury.