The Pompey Chimes

Manager from August 1909 to May 1920

Bob Brown was appointed secretary-manager of Southern League Portsmouth  in June 1911 having joined Pompey from Sheffield Wednesday.  Pompey had just been relegated to the second division of the Southern League and faced financial ruin if they could not regain their First Division status quickly, for the Second Division of the Southern League meant much more travelling and smaller attendances. Fortunately for the club and its fans, Pompey won the championship and were promoted.

To help boost the club's flagging fortunes, Brown signed a number of Scottish players and in the 1919/20 season took the club to the Southern League First Division championship. However, in April 1920, he left Fratton Park after a difference over future policy with club Chairman george lewin-Oliver.

After a brief spell as manager of Gillingham, he rejoined Sheffield Wednesday, for whom he had earlier scouted. Success took some time to come to Wednesday but in the 1928/29 and 1929/30 seasons he led the club to the League Championship.

He retired from football management in 1933, soon after the death of his wife. In 1935 he collapsed on Leeds train station and died 24 hours later.