Through all the upheaval, all the change and all the ups and (mostly) downs of the last four years, one face has remained a cheerful constant. Should Lee Brown turn out in the quarters when Rovers continue their Vanarama Conference promotion bid at Woking on Saturday it will be his 167th outing since arriving at the Memorial Stadium. The buccaneering left-back may still be some way short of Stuart Taylor's record-breaking 546 outings and is six years shy of a testimonial, – yet such has been the penchant for change at Rovers in recent times, Brown, somewhat surprisingly, is the club's longest-serving player. Brown said: "I was one of about 20 players that Paul Buckle brought in and it is amazing to think that I am the only one left. Rovers was a great move for me because the club were throwing a bit of money at trying to get promoted back to League One. I thought it would be a good place for me to get my career up and running, but I never thought I would still be here four years down the line. The first season wasn't too good, the season after that wasn't much better and last season was an absolute disaster. You can't hide the fact that on the pitch it has been three bad seasons for us." Things, however, could always be a lot worse. Brown is one of those lucky few; the one or two who actually get to pursue their dreams of a professional career after spending much of his boyhood and teenage years inside the youth ranks of two of London's top clubs in the shape of Arsenal and QPR. Brown reminisced: "I feel very lucky to still be in the game and pursuing a career that I always dreamed about. I looked at a picture of our youth team at QPR the other day and there are only me and one or two others who are still playing professionally. I certainly wasn't one of the better players in our group at QPR, but I always worked hard and tried my best and I think that is what has served me well. I'm happy to have played over 200 senior games at this stage of my career. You don't get anywhere near that many if somebody doesn't think you can play a little bit." It hasn't always been plain-sailing, of course. The abrupt way that his QPR career was ended after having just one first-team appearance to show for the six years spent coming through the ranks was the first setback. Brown said: "It was a sad day for me when I was told that I didn't have a future at QPR. I'd been there since I was 14 and it was all that I knew. Getting told that my time there was at an end was probably the first real setback I'd had in the game. I was gutted at the time, but, looking back on it now, I have no hard feelings towards anybody there. I wasn't good enough; it's as simple as that. I think the way things turned out have been the making of me, really. I've worked hard on my game since and I believe I have matured and improved a lot since then. I think I am better in possession now and my football intelligence has come on in leaps and bounds and that is all as a result of playing regular games for Rovers." Those regular games for Rovers, however, almost came to an end over the summer when an out-of-contract Brown was courted by a number of Football League clubs in the aftermath of relegation. Brown said: "I was gutted when I was told that I wouldn't be having my contract renewed at QPR, but the relegation was so much worse. Would dropping out of the Football League harm my career in the long-term? Would I ever get back? Those sorts of questions were always in your thoughts for almost every waking hour. My head was telling me one thing and my heart was telling me another and just when you think you have come to a decision you speak to someone else and they say something that will change your mind. I didn't know what I should do for the best, but I was right on the verge of leaving. I looked at the situation and it was really what Darrell said to me about his plans that eventually helped me make my mind up to stay. There has been a lot of ups and downs in the three years I had been here, but I have enjoyed being at the club and am happy living in Bristol. I'd consider QPR to be my first club but Rovers is what I would call my first proper club. I actually feel like I have an identity and am part of something at this club. I have no regrets over the decision I made. It has been a long road back for all of us who are still here from what happened last season, but, at last, I think we are all finally moving in the right direction." http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Lee-Brown-happy-man-standing/story-25858352-detail/story.html
DC has made some very good signings but keeping Lee Brown here was a major plus for the GAS. Long may he continue to perform as he has done in the past seasons. one of Paul Buckles better signings for us. I really hope that we get promoted so that players like Lee get the rewards they are due for their loyalty
Lee's been an excellent servant to the club and I hope his loyalty is rewarded with promotion. I'd like to see him stay with the club as we attempt to get back up the leagues. A club needs a few long-serving characters around.
Far be it for me to disagree with the Bristol Post but Ollie Clarke signed for Rovers at the same time as Elliott Richards.
Ollie Clarke 2009 Lee Brown 2011 You're right P49. I wonder if they mean most appearances? Or if they have ignored Clarke as been out on loan a lot? Or that they just cocked up?
I just sent Mcnamara a tweet about it and he replied quite quickly.... "Yes mate. This error has already been established. Keep it to yourself! Hope you enjoyed the feature otherwise." So it was a cock up then
