Doug Brown – Stoke-on-Trent
Doug Brown & Roy Brown’s father, Eugene and his brother John came to England from the Ghana, West Africa, they were students. They decided to join the British Army when WW1 boke out. John was killed and Eugene badly injured but after the war he got married and had two sons. Eugene later died of his war injuries and the boys were raised by their mother, an English Woman from Stoke-on-Trent.
Roy Brown was a talented footballer and he was signed by Stoke City on leaving school at 14. The Second World War interrupted his football career although he did play for the club in the Football Regional League. He made his debut in 1941 and played a few games before joining the armed services.
The league did not resume until the 1946-47 season. Brown scored 14 goals in 74 games for Stoke City. In 1953 he was transferred to Watford in Division Three (South). Over the next few years, he scored 40 goals in 142 games.
Doug Brown
Doug Brown rose to be a local politician in Stoke. During World War 2 Doug Brown trained as a physiotherapist to help in the recovery of injured soldiers. He continued this work in the newly formed National Health Service.
In 1960 Doug became the physio for Stoke City. His Brother, Roy had played for Stoke City as a young man. In 1967 Doug set up the first “Lads-and-dads” matches on local school football pitches, which had previously been closed at weekends. For his work with Lads and Dads, he was nominated by Footballers Garth Crooks and Robbie Earle (Both originally from Stoke on Trent) for the BBC People’s Awards.
The same year Doug became an independent councillor, later joining the Labour Party.
He was appointed Lord Mayor in 1984 and then later helped to set up “Match Mates” to help combat Hooliganism. Princess Diana presented Doug with an award for his work in this area.
In 1997 he was appointed as Lord Mayor for the second time.
Doug Received an honorary degree from Keele University in recognition of his lifetime’s service to young people. He was a Justice of the Peace, President of the North Staffordshire Chinese Community.
Honorary member of the Grenadier Guards.Chairman of the board of governors at Sutherland primary school in Blurton (for 22 years).
I found this very interesting. My dad, from Watford, was a friend of Roy and Doug. Roy married a lady called Joan, and they had a son, Gregory. Because it was a mixed marriage, they did get quite a bit of prejudice shown to them in those days – the 1950s and early 1960s. both Roy and Doug were lovely men.
Thanks for sharing that information with us Jan. Doug in Particular was very well thought of in Stoke. his photo still hangs in the civic Centre, and the museum features him in Black History Month every year.
Played football against lads and dads teams when l played for Cathkin Utd from rutherglen in Glasgow way back in the early 1970s stayed in Doug home when I was there one of the times made very welcome by his family he was a really great guy read about his sad passing a few years ago will always have happy memories of that weekend
There was a third brother,the eldest,Eugene who was also well respected.
Hey thanks William, what can you tell me about Eugene? Unfortunately, I found it difficult to get much information about the family.
Doug was a neighbour on Princes Road, Penkhull. I spent my early childhood in his house and playing with his 3 lovely kids in the cobbled back street. We helped him to get elected as an independent councillor. It shaped my politics and non-racial approach to life. I then left to go to Bradford University and was grateful for his families part in my life. Maria if you’re still out there it’s me Howard.