Kenneth James Brown (born 11 July 1967) is an English former professional footballer and current West Ham United academy manager.[3] As a player, he played for Norwich City, Plymouth Argyle, West Ham United, Huddersfield Town, Reading, Southend United, Crystal Palace, Reading, Birmingham City, Millwall, Gillingham, Kingstonian, Portadown, Barry Town, Tilbury and FC Torrevieja. He has also managed Barry Town, CD Jávea, and Tooting & Mitcham United and been assistant manager with Grays Athletic and Chelmsford City. Following the departure of Dean Holdsworth as manager of Chelmsford in November 2013, Brown became their caretaker manager.

Kenny Brown
Personal information
Full name Kenneth James Brown[1]
Date of birth (1967-07-11) 11 July 1967 (age 57)[1]
Place of birth Barking, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1988 Norwich City 25 (0)
1988–1991 Plymouth Argyle 126 (4)
1991–1996 West Ham United 63 (5)
1995Huddersfield Town (loan) 5 (0)
1995Reading (loan) 12 (1)
1996Southend United (loan) 6 (0)
1996Crystal Palace (loan) 6 (2)
1996Reading (loan) 5 (0)
1996–1997Birmingham City (loan) 2 (0)
1997 Birmingham City 9 (0)
1997–1998 Millwall 45 (0)
1998–1999 Gillingham 4 (0)
Kingstonian
Portadown
2000–2003 Barry Town 82 (1)
2003–200? Tilbury
CD Torrevieja
Managerial career
2000–2003 Barry Town
2006–2009 CD Jávea
2009–2011 Grays Athletic (Assistant manager)
2011–2012 Tooting & Mitcham United
2013 Chelmsford City (Assistant manager)
2013 Chelmsford City (Caretaker manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Brown, a defender, began his career with Norwich City under the management of his father before playing for Plymouth Argyle, West Ham United, Huddersfield Town (loan), Reading (loan), Southend United (loan), Crystal Palace (loan), Birmingham City, Millwall, Gillingham, Kingstonian, Tilbury and Barry Town. He spent some time in Spain with FC Torrevieja before retiring from playing football. He famously scored the winning goal for West Ham United in a league match against Manchester United on 22 April 1992, handing Leeds United the impetus in that season's title race.[4][5]

He was manager of CD Jávea, a Spanish regional league side who played in the Valenciana Regional Preferente Group IV from 2006 to 2009. Grays Athletic announced an offer had been put to Brown to become assistant manager to Julian Dicks on 18 September 2009.[6] Jávea denied Brown had agreed terms two days later,[7] before confirming his departure later that day.[8] In the 2012–13 season he was lead development coach and first team coach at Barnet,[9] departing at the end of the season.

In July 2013, Brown joined Chelmsford City as assistant manager to Dean Holdsworth who was appointed in May 2013.[10] Following a 6–0 defeat by Boreham Wood, Holdsworth left the club in November 2013 with Brown taking over as caretaker manager.[11] Brown joined Dagenham & Redbridge FC as Academy Manager in July 2014[12] before moving to Millwall as head of coaching in February 2016.[13] Brown's return to West Ham, commencing in January 2022 as coach to their under 9 to 14 age group was announced in December 2021.[14]

Personal life

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His father, also called Ken, was also a professional footballer and managed Norwich City and Plymouth Argyle and his son Luis played in the Arsenal Academy.[15]

Brown is an ambassador for an all-female football academy run by former Arsenal & La Masia youth player, Judan Ali.[16][17]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Kenny Brown". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda, ed. (1997). Playfair Football Annual 1997–98. Headline. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-7472-5644-1.
  3. ^ "Kenny Brown appointed Academy Manager | West Ham United F.C."
  4. ^ "Kenny Brown". whufc.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  5. ^ "Game played on 22 Apr 1992". westhamstats.info. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  6. ^ "The Blues go after Brown". Grays Athletic F.C. 18 September 2009. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Exit for Brown? Javea deny departure". CD Jávea. 20 September 2009. Archived from the original on 28 September 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
  8. ^ "Confirmed: Kenny departs Rojiblancos". CD Jávea. 20 September 2009. Archived from the original on 28 September 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  9. ^ "Bees bolster backroom bunch". Barnet F.C. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  10. ^ Phipps, Jon (31 July 2013). "New Chelmsford City assistant manager Kenny Brown delighted at role". Essex Chronicle. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  11. ^ "Dean Holdsworth: Chelmsford City boss 'agrees to stand down'". BBC Sport. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Flown From the Nest". ex-canaries.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Staff profiles age groups".[dead link]
  14. ^ "Kenny Brown returns to West Ham in new coaching role". 29 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Young Gun: Luis Brown". 29 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Coach Ali wants to give local girls chance to play football". 8 August 2019. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Interview with the Judan Ali Football Academy". 6 June 2021.
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