Rhys Browne

Stephen Rhys Browne (born 16 November 1995) is an Antiguan footballer who plays for National League club Sutton United. Able to play as a winger or striker, he has been capped by the Antigua and Barbuda national football team.

Rhys Browne
Personal information
Full name Stephen Rhys Browne[1]
Date of birth (1995-11-16) 16 November 1995
Place of birth Romford, England
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger; forward
Club information
Current team
 Sutton United
Number 27
Youth career
Interwood
2012–2014 Norwich City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Charlton Athletic 0 (0)
2015 → VCD Athletic (loan)
2015–2016 Aldershot Town 37 (6)
2016–2017 Grimsby Town 5 (0)
2017 → Macclesfield Town (loan) 17 (2)
2017–2019 Yeovil Town 63 (5)
2019–2020 Port Vale 11 (0)
2020–2021 Wealdstone 1 (0)
2021– Sutton United 2 (0)
National team‡
2015– Antigua and Barbuda 10 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 08:49, 25 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 08:10, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

A former youth-team player at Norwich City and Charlton Athletic, he also spent time on loan at Isthmian League side VCD Athletic. He won the FA Youth Cup and Norfolk Senior Cup with Norwich, but did not play a first-team game for the "Canaries". He spent the 2015–16 season with Aldershot Town in the National League, before winning a move into the English Football League with Grimsby Town in June 2016. From Grimsby he was loaned out to Macclesfield Town, and played on the losing side in the 2017 FA Trophy final. He joined Yeovil Town in June 2017, before departing following the club's relegation out of the Football League at the end of the 2018–19 season. He remained in the Football League however, signing with Port Vale in July 2019. He left the club in August 2020 and joined Sutton United via Wealdstone in January 2021.

Club career

Early career

Browne joined Norwich City as a youth player, having previously played for Interwood.[3] He was part of the squad that won the 2012–13 FA Youth Cup with 4–2 aggregate victory over Chelsea, as well as the Norfolk Senior Cup that same season with a 2–0 win over Wroxham.[3] He never made the senior team at Carrow Road however and was released by Norwich at the end of the 2013–14 season, subsequently joining Charlton Athletic. From Charlton he was loaned out to VCD Athletic of the Isthmian League.[4] He left The Valley after being released by Charlton in May 2015.[5][6]

Aldershot Town

Following his release from Charlton, Browne went on trial with National League club Aldershot Town.[7] During his time on trial he scored in friendlies against Basingstoke Town and Chelsea under-21s,[7] and impressed manager Barry Smith enough to win a contract on 31 July 2015.[7] Browne made his competitive début and scored his first goal for the "Shots" in a 2–1 defeat to Gateshead at the Recreation Ground on 8 August.[8] He went on to score seven goals in 41 appearances across the 2015–16 season as Aldershot posted a 15th-place finish.

Grimsby Town

On 21 June 2016, Browne signed a two-year contract with newly promoted League Two side Grimsby Town for an undisclosed fee.[9] He made his debut for the "Mariners" in the EFL Cup, coming on as a 55th-minute substitute for Sean McAllister in a 1–0 defeat at Derby County.[10] He made a further seven appearances for the club, all as a substitute, and new manager Marcus Bignot revealed that he was working to get the young striker a loan move closer to his family home after time spent on compassionate leave following the death of his father.[11] On 12 January, he joined National League side Macclesfield Town on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[12] He scored his first goal in his first league start for the "Silkmen", in a 1–0 win at Eastleigh on 21 February.[13] He scored four goals in six games of the club's FA Trophy run, including one in the final at Wembley Stadium, though Macclesfield would lose the game 3–2 to York City.[14] In all he scored six goals in 24 games during his time at Moss Rose.

Paul Hurst brought me in at Grimsby and left so there was a change in manager. After that it was a bit of a rollercoaster and not knowing how to settle so it wasn't anything about not liking it. A lot was happening with me off the field and I needed to play some games (out on loan) and take away what was going on. I was in a position where I was away from my family and not playing games.

— Browne arrived at Blundell Park at a bad time and found it difficult to settle.[15]

Yeovil Town

On 16 June 2017, Browne left Grimsby for Yeovil Town, signing a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[16] He stated that the "Glovers" aim was to achieve automatic promotion, though admitted that "I've never really played in this league before so I don't really know what the test is".[17] On 30 January, he scored past former club Grimsby in a 3–0 win at Huish Park.[18] He ended the 2017–18 campaign with six goals in 42 games as Darren Way's Yeovil posted a 19th-place finish. Having contributed just one goal from 30 appearances in the 2018–19 season and missing the end of season run-in with a hamstring injury, Browne was released by Yeovil following the club's relegation from the Football League.[19][20]

Port Vale

Browne signed for League Two side Port Vale on 27 July 2019, having been on trial at the club throughout pre season; he had previously played under manager John Askey at Macclesfield Town.[21] A hamstring problem caused him to miss the first month of the 2019–20 season, and he eventually made his debut for the "Valiants" on 14 September, replacing Callum Evans 35 minutes into a 1–0 win over Plymouth Argyle at Vale Park; ironically Evans was taken off due to a hamstring injury, as was winger David Amoo, leaving Browne with an opportunity to stake a first-team place in their absence.[22][23][24] He scored his first goal for the club in an EFL Trophy tie against Mansfield Town on 3 December.[25] After the game Askey commented that Browne "has a tendency to be lazy" but "has got a lot of ability [and] if he is confident then he can play at a high level".[26] Speaking in February, first-team coach Danny Pugh said that "he has done exceptionally well in the last couple of games... [though] it has been a frustrating season [for him and] maybe he has not played as much as he would have liked".[27] He signed a new one-year contract after he ended the campaign with one goals in 15 appearances.[28][29] On 29 August 2020, Browne left Port Vale having had his contract terminated at his request.[30] Askey cited family reasons for the player's departure, adding that "it was a shame because he was doing well".[31]

Return to non-League

On 23 December 2020, Browne signed for National League side Wealdstone.[32] He made only one brief appearance for the "Stones", in a 4–0 defeat at Maidenhead United on Boxing day.[33] On 6 January 2021, Browne signed for fellow National League side Sutton United.[34]

International career

Browne made his international début for Antigua and Barbuda at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on 10 June 2015, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute for Keiran Murtagh in a 4–1 defeat to Saint Lucia in the second round of 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF qualification.[35] His second cap and first international start came in the second leg, where he was substituted in the 46th-minute in a 4–1 win; Antigua won 5–4 on aggregate, and advanced to the third round.[36][37] He scored his first international goal on 21 March 2018, opening the scoring in a 3–2 friendly win over Bermuda.[38]

Style of play

On signing for Aldershot Town, manager Barry Smith said; "Rhys fulfils everything that we're looking for in a wide player – he's quick, he's got a trick, he's enthusiastic and has had a good upbringing in football. When you see someone as exciting as Rhys you want to have these type of players in your squad".[7] Yeovil manager Darren Way commented that "Rhys is technically a very, very gifted player and someone I've been aware of for the last two years. He likes to get the ball to feet, be positive in one-on-one situations and he's got a good end product in the final third".[39]

Personal life

Browne is the son of former Yeovil Town footballer Steve Browne.[40]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 23 January 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aldershot Town 2015–16[33]National League 37631—1[lower-alpha 1]0417
Grimsby Town 2016–17[41] League Two 5010101[lower-alpha 2]080
Macclesfield Town (loan) 2016–17[33] National League 172——7[lower-alpha 1]4246
Yeovil Town 2017–18[42] League Two 35420104[lower-alpha 2]2426
2018–19[43] League Two 28110001[lower-alpha 2]0301
Total 635301050727
Port Vale 2019–20[44] League Two 11010003[lower-alpha 2]1151
Wealdstone 2020–21[33] National League 1000—0010
Sutton United 2020–21[33] National League 2000—1[lower-alpha 1]030
Career total 13613812018716421
  1. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. Appearances in EFL Trophy

International
As of match played 19 November 2018.[45]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Antigua and Barbuda 201520
201640
201841
Total101

International goals
As of match played 19 November 2018. Antigua & Barbuda score listed first, score column indicates score after each Browne goal.[45]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 21 March 2018Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua & Barbuda7 Bermuda1–03–2Friendly

Honours
Norwich City
Macclesfield Town

References
  1. "The Football League Retained List". The Football League. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  2. Rhys Browne at Soccerway
  3. "Rhys Browne". Flown From The Nest. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  4. Hunt, Mark (29 October 2015). "Cray Wanderers vs Charlton Athletic Kent Senior Cup". News Shopper. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  5. "Triple Shock at Charlton as three key players released". Sevenoaks Chronicle. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  6. Groome, Olly (12 May 2015). "Charlton announce list of released players". Charlton Athletic F.C. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  7. "Shots Sign Trialist Browne". Aldershot Town F.C. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  8. "Aldershot 1-2 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  9. "Mariners sign Aldershot forward Rhys Browne". Grimsby Telegraph. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  10. "Derby County 1-0 Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  11. "Rhys Set For Loan Move?". www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  12. "Macclesfield Town sign Grimsby's Rhys Browne on loan until end of season". BBC Sport. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  13. "Eastleigh 0-1 Macclesfield Town". BBC Sport. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  14. "FA Trophy final - Macclesfield Town v York City". BBC Sport. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  15. Hancock, Lewis (15 September 2017). "INTERVIEW | Browne relishing Grimsby return". www.ytfc.net. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  16. "Rhys Browne: Yeovil Town sign winger from Grimsby Town for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  17. Marsh, Ollie (2 August 2017). "Why new Glover Rhys Browne is aiming for automatic promotion". somersetlive. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  18. "Yeovil Town 3-0 Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  19. O'Loughlin, Alex (24 April 2019). "NEWS | Season over for Browne". www.ytfc.net. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  20. "Yeovil Town: Glovers release nine players after relegation from Football League". BBC Sport. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  21. Baggaley, Michael (27 July 2019). "Port Vale sign winger Rhys Browne". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  22. Baggaley, Michael (30 July 2019). "Port Vale injury update on Ryan Lloyd, Rhys Browne and Cristian Montano". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  23. "Port Vale 1-0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. 14 September 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  24. Baggaley, Michael (14 September 2019). "Port Vale injury news on David Amoo, Tom Conlon and Callum Evans". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  25. "Penalties misery again as Mansfield Town bow out of Trophy at Port Vale". chad.co.uk. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  26. Baggaley, Michael (6 December 2019). "'He's got a lot of ability' - Port Vale boss on winger". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  27. Baggaley, Michael (19 February 2020). "'He has shown people what he's about' - Port Vale coach impressed with winger". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  28. Baggaley, Michael (20 May 2020). "Port Vale talks with out-of-contract players as owners back club through crisis". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  29. "Cristian Montano & Rhys Browne: Port Vale pair sign new one-year contracts". BBC Sport. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  30. Baggaley, Michael (29 August 2020). "'He was doing well' - Rhys Browne leaves Port Vale after request". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  31. Baggaley, Michael (29 August 2020). "'He was doing well' - Rhys Browne leaves Port Vale after request". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  32. "Wealdstone sign two more following addition of Lench". West London Sport. 23 December 2020.
  33. "R. Browne". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  34. "Welcome Rhys Browne". Sutton United F.C. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  35. "Antigua and Barbuda 1 - 3 Saint Lucia". Caribbean Football Database. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  36. "Saint Lucia 1 - 4 Antigua and Barbuda". Caribbean Football Database. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  37. "Rhys On The Road To Russia". Aldershot Town F.C. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  38. "Antigua and Barbuda vs. Bermuda - 22 March 2018 - Soccerway". my.soccerway.com. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  39. Baggaley, Michael (6 July 2019). "Who are Port Vale's trialists - factfile on the four in action at Kidsgrove". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  40. "Tributes for ex-Potters Bar Town manager Steve Browne". Welwyn Hatfield Times. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  41. "Games played by Rhys Browne in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  42. "Games played by Rhys Browne in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  43. "Games played by Rhys Browne in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  44. "Games played by Rhys Browne in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  45. "Browne, Rhys". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
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