| John Brown | |
| Fullname: | John Brown |
| Birth Date: | 15 October 1887 |
| Birth Place: | Clackmannan, Scotland |
| Death Place: | Dundee, Scotland |
| Position: | Outside left |
| Youthclubs1: | Tulliallan Juveniles |
| Caps1: | 1905–1906 |
| Years2: | 1906–1907 |
| Years3: | 1907–1908 |
| Years4: | 1908–1911 |
| Caps4: | 51 |
| Goals4: | 15 |
| Years5: | 1911–1913 |
| Caps5: | 40 |
| Goals5: | 7 |
| Years6: | 1912 |
| Clubs6: | → Chelsea (loan) |
| Caps6: | 0 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 1913–1915 |
| Caps7: | 16 |
| Goals7: | 4 |
| Years8: | 1915–1916 |
| Caps8: | 25 |
| Goals8: | 4 |
| Years11: | 1920–1921 |
| Years12: | 1921–1925 |
| Caps12: | 23 |
| Goals12: | 4 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1912 |
| Nationalteam1: | Scottish League XI |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Manageryears1: | 1921–1925 |
| Managerclubs1: | Lochgelly United |
John Brown (15 October 1887 – 6 December 1943) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside-left.
After a spell at Alloa Athletic where he played alongside elder brother William and both also worked in the local mines, Brown joined Falkirk in 1908.[1] While his brother was killed in a mine shaft collapse in 1909, John escaped life in the pits, his career continued to progress and he signed for Celtic in 1911.[2] [3] His time in Glasgow started well, and after displacing veteran Davie Hamilton in the side, he was selected for the Scottish Football League XI for a game against The Football League XI,[4] followed two months later by a Scottish Cup win,[2] Clyde being defeated in the 1912 final.[5]
He began to be overshadowed by John Browning at Celtic and was loaned to English side Chelsea in December 1912, the switch being made permanent two months later.[2] However, after making 11 Football League appearances for the Blues (scoring three goals) in his first half-season in West London,[6] Brown was a backup to Billy Bridgeman, then fellow Scot Bob McNeil, and played only five more matches at that level in the next two years – instead he was a regular in the reserves, with 51 games (seven goals) in two seasons.[6]
With English football suspended due to the First World War, in 1915 Brown returned to Falkirk (also serving in the Black Watch during the conflict),[1] and later appeared for hometown team Clackmannan and for various teams in Fife, latterly Lochgelly United where he also served as manager.[7] He was also a coach at Dundee, working with former Celtic teammate Alec McNair.[1] Away from football he operated a sweet shop in Glencraig and a fish-and-chip business in Broughty Ferry.[1]