Brown, Cyril 1936 – 2025

Born at Sunderland , the former Grantham St Anne’s and St John’s player, who is one of Grantham Town’s longest serving players and should receive the highest of acclaim when it is remembered that appearances in secondary competitions like league and county cups were severely limited during this time.

Cyril made his debut against Boston United in January 1957 and scored his first goal for Grantham a few months later against Mansfield Town Reserves.

He made only a limited amount of appearances during the following two seasons, but by Grantham’s entry into the Central Alliance League, he had become a consistent member of the side.

He played in the April 1961 Lincolnshire County Cup ‘A’ Final and scored one of the goals to help secure victory against Gainsborough Trinity.

With Grantham’s return to the Midland League, Cyril missed many of the games in the latter half of that season, but 1962/63 saw him back and playing in every single game, while the following season saw him rewarded with a Midland League Championship medal after one of the clubs most memorable years.

It was in the days of the attacking 5-3-2 formation, and he shared the midfield with Jowett & Farmer.

For the next three seasons, Cyril became an important member of Terry Bly’s new side and he played in most of Grantham’s notable FA Cup games including Swindon Town and Wimbledon, while in May 1966 he was rewarded with a testimonial when a Rotherham United side were defeated 5-2 by The Gingerbreads.

His last season at London Road, 1967/68, saw a final FA Cup Proper encounter in the defeat against Altrincham, before his last goal in the game at Loughborough United and his final competitive match at Retford Town in May 1968.

The following week, the conclusion to his long career came in the victorious Bourne Hospital Cup Final, with Grantham earning a 3-0 victory.

A few years later his brother-in-law, Colin Skeith, played for the club.

Cyril continued to work in the engineering industry in town, plus managed the Great Gonerby team in the early 1980s.

Compiled with the co-operation of Jon Barnes