Page 6 - Keystone Spring 2020 Issue 4

Meet The Wardens

Willie Brown

Provincial Grand Senior Warden

Willie was born on the 5th February 1950 in the town of Falkirk. He was educated at Graeme High in
Falkirk, he always wanted to be a footballer.
He has a few hobbies such as golf, at one time getting his handicap down to 8. He is married to
Christine, they have been together 46 years, and Christine is of Italian origin.

Willie was initiated in St Bernard Lodge in April 1980, he is currently in Exmoor Mark and Royal Ark
Mariners 697 also in Exmoor Chapter 2390, taking the Chair in all three Lodges.
When he retired from soccer he was a newsagent for 20years. He tells me that his Scottish family
have always been Freemasons.

Willie Brown Footballer

Willie Brown began his career as a junior at Burnley, turning professional in February 1967. His only
league appearance for the Clarets came as a substitute for Dave Thomas in the 2–3 defeat away at
West Bromwich Albion on 24 August 1968. In July 1969, he moved to Carlisle United on a free
transfer, but was sent on loan to Barrow in September 1969, scoring once in 6 league games. He
returned to Carlisle, scoring 8 goals in 19 league games that season, before leaving for Newport
County in August 1970 for a fee of £1,500.

He fitted into the Newport side and became a regular goalscorer, scoring 50 goals in 168 league
appearances. Towards the end of the 1973–74 season, Brown found himself out of favour at Newport,
joining Hereford United on loan in March 1974, scoring 6 goals in only 9 league games for the Bulls.

In November 1974 he joined Brentford for a fee of £4,000, and although he scored 9 times in 16
league games he failed to settle in London and joined Torquay United in March 1975 for a fee of
£5,000. His regular goalscoring soon made him a crowd favourite at Plainmoor, Brown scoring 47
goals in 139 league games before leaving league football in 1978. He was later commercial manager
at Western League side Minehead, and owned a newsagents in Minehead.

Spring Issue 2020 Page6