Doug Brown

NSL Career: Preston, South Melbourne, Heidelberg 152 (73) / 1981 - 1987

Socceroos Career: 5 (2) B Internationals

A stocky forward, Doug Brown possessed a powerful shot and was an accomplished set piece taker. Brown became a star for Preston before joining South Melbourne where he scored goals for fun alongside star striker Charlie Egan. Brown had the best strike rate of any foreign NSL striker who scored at least 40 goals and had the 13th best of any striker with at least 15 NSL appearances. 

Born in England to Scottish footballer George Brown, who was playing in the lower divisions of English football at the time, Brown relocated to Scotland with his family in his youth and started his football journey in the Airdrie school system before joining amateur side Chapelhall. Brown signed his first professional contract with Aberdeen as an 18 year old but was unable to make a competitive appearance for the first team during his two seasons at the club despite his success in the reserves. 

Given a free transfer by Aberdeen, Brown joined Clydebank for the 1978/79 season and made his First Division debut at the age of 20. Brown was used mostly as a substitute and scored one goal in 12 league appearances as a second-choice forward for Clydebank before moving to English Second Division side Sheffield United midway through the season. 

Brown was unable to help Sheffield avoid relegation and remained with the club for the following season where he played half of the Third Division season before returning to Scotland in 1980. Brown had a short stint with Second Division side Stranraer before moving to Australia where he joined Preston, who were set to compete in the Phillips Soccer League for the first time. 

Despite an otherwise disappointing debut season by Preston, Brown started his career in Australia well, combining with talented forwards Peter Ollerton and Claude Lucchesi to score 25 of Preston's 39 league goals. During the 1982 season, Brown formed a strong partnership with English-born striker Gary Ward as Lucchesi and Ollerton played in deeper positions. Brown was the club's leading scorer with 11 as Preston missed out on a spot in the Play-Off Series only by a less-superior goal difference to Heidelberg.

Seeking a move away from Preston, the club completed a swap deal with South Melbourne for midfielder George Campbell. Joining Scottish striker Charlie Egan in attack and supported by talented midfielders Oscar Crino, Ken Murphy and Carl Halford - Brown became the most prolific goal scorer in the competition.

Finishing the season with 16 goals in 28 league games, Brown won the NSL Golden Boot and helped South finish fourth in the league and reach the NSL Cup Semi-Finals. Brown's goal scoring prowess earned him a Socceroos call-up in 1984 where he scored against Rangers and Iraklis in a series of B internationals.

Building on their strong 1983 season, South finished minor premiers of the Southern Conference in 1984 as Brown won back-to-back NSL Golden Boot awards, scoring 20 goals in 28 league games. Brown scored a late brace for South to defeat Melbourne Croatia in the NSL Major Semi-Final, scoring two goals from outside the box from Crino assists (a low shot and a lob over the keeper).

Brown's ability from set pieces proved instrumental in earning South their first NSL Championship. The Scottish forward's free kick against Heidelberg in the Southern Conference Final led to Alan Davidson's goal before finding John Yzendoorn with a corner to put South in front. 

Brown was involved in three of South's four NSL Grand Final goals against Sydney Olympic over two legs from his corner-taking responsibilities. During the 1985 season, Egan succeeded Brown as South's top scorer, winning the NSL Golden Boot as the strike partners combined with 27 league goals. 

South reached the Southern Conference Preliminary Final after finishing minor premiers for the second consecutive season. Brown equalised deep in to extra time against Preston to take the game to a penalty shoot-out in which Preston were victorious despite Brown converting his penalty.

Brown played just three league games for South at the start of the 1986 season before securing a $10,000 transfer to Heidelberg midway through the season. Brown scored on his debut against former club Preston before finishing the season with seven goals in 12 league games for Heidelberg, but missed their finals series run through injury.

Following the club's four-one defeat in the first round of the 1987 season and the appointment of former coach John Margaritis, Brown was transfer-listed and joined Victorian State League side Fawkner. Brown spent two seasons at Fawkner, scoring 22 goals in 46 league games before hanging up his boots at the age of 30.