Rhys Browne Explained

Rhys Browne
Fullname:Stephen Rhys Browne[1]
Birth Date:1995 11, df=y
Birth Place:Romford, England
Height:1.77m
Position:Winger
forward
Currentclub:Barnet
Clubnumber:8
Youthclubs1:Interwood
Youthyears2:2012–2014
Youthclubs2:Norwich City
Years1:2014–2015
Clubs1:Charlton Athletic
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2015
Clubs2:VCD Athletic (loan)
Caps2:3
Goals2:1
Years3:2015–2016
Clubs3:Aldershot Town
Caps3:37
Goals3:6
Years4:2016–2017
Clubs4:Grimsby Town
Caps4:5
Goals4:0
Years5:2017
Clubs5:Macclesfield Town (loan)
Caps5:17
Goals5:2
Years6:2017–2019
Clubs6:Yeovil Town
Caps6:63
Goals6:5
Years7:2019–2020
Clubs7:Port Vale
Caps7:11
Goals7:0
Years8:2020–2021
Clubs8:Wealdstone
Caps8:1
Goals8:0
Years9:2021
Clubs9:Sutton United
Caps9:12
Goals9:0
Years10:2021–2022
Clubs10:Wealdstone
Caps10:42
Goals10:13
Years11:2022–2024
Clubs11:Woking
Caps11:47
Goals11:15
Years12:2024–
Clubs12:Barnet
Caps12:0
Goals12:0
Nationalyears1:2015–
Nationalteam1:Antigua and Barbuda
Nationalcaps1:12
Nationalgoals1:2
Club-Update:14:01, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:08:47, 10 July 2021 (UTC)

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

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. However, he remained in the Football League, signing with Port Vale in July 2019. He left the club in August 2020 and joined Sutton United via Wealdstone in January 2021. Sutton went on to win promotion as National League champions at the end of the 2020–21 season. He rejoined Wealdstone in June 2021 and was sold to Woking in October 2022. He signed with Barnet in June 2024.

Club career

Early career

Browne joined Norwich City as a youth team player, having previously played for Interwood.[2] 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. 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.[3] He left The Valley after being released by Charlton in May 2015.[4] [5]

Aldershot Town

Following his release from Charlton, Browne went on trial with National League club Aldershot Town.[6] During his time on trial he scored in friendlies against Basingstoke Town and Chelsea under-21s, and impressed manager Barry Smith enough to win a contract on 31 July 2015. 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] On 12 January, he joined National League side Macclesfield Town on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[11] He scored his first goal in his first league start for the "Silkmen", in a 1–0 win at Eastleigh on 21 February.[12] 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.[13] In all he scored six goals in 24 games during his time at Moss Rose.

Yeovil Town

On 16 June 2017, Browne left Grimsby for Yeovil Town, signing a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[14] 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".[15] On 30 January, he scored past former club Grimsby in a 3–0 win at Huish Park.[16] 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, Yeovil released Browne following the club's relegation from the Football League.[17] [18]

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.[19] 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.[20] [21] [22] He scored his first goal for the club in an EFL Trophy tie against Mansfield Town on 3 December.[23] 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".[24] 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".[25] He signed a new one-year contract after he ended the campaign with one goals in 15 appearances.[26] [27] On 29 August 2020, Browne left Port Vale having had his contract terminated at his request.[28] Askey cited family reasons for the player's departure, adding that "it was a shame because he was doing well".[29]

Non-League

On 23 December 2020, Browne signed for National League side Wealdstone.[30] He made only one brief appearance for the "Stones", in a 4–0 defeat at Maidenhead United on Boxing day.[31] On 6 January 2021, Browne signed for fellow National League side Sutton United.[32] He made 14 appearances in the second half of the 2020–21 season, as Sutton secured promotion into the Football League as champions of the National League.[31] [33] However, he was one of seven players released in the summer by manager Matt Gray.[34] Browne returned to Wealdstone in June 2021, signing a one-year contract with an option for a second year.[35] On 13 November 2021, Browne scored his first goal for the Stones, coming off the bench and scoring the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Barnet at Grosvenor Vale.[36] In March 2022, Browne scored three goals in two games, with a goal away to Maidenhead United and a brace in a 3–2 win over Weymouth.[37] [38] He ended the 2021–22 season with six goals in 29 games.

On 14 October 2022, Browne joined league rivals Woking for an undisclosed fee, scoring seven goals in thirteen league games early in Wealdstone's season.[39] He scored 13 goals from 31 appearances in the remainder of the 2022–23 campaign, helping Woking to a fourth-place finish. He featured 22 times in the 2023–24 season, including in the final day victory over AFC Fylde that secured safety from relegation.[40] Following their final-day survival, he was offered a new contract by Woking.[41]

Barnet

On 14 May 2024, Browne joined National League rivals Barnet on a two-year deal.[42]

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.[43] 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.[44] [45] He scored his first international goal on 21 March 2018, opening the scoring in a 3–2 friendly win over Bermuda.[46]

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". 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".[47]

Personal life

Browne is the son of former Yeovil Town footballer Steve Browne.[48]

Career statistics

Club

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Charlton Athletic2014–15Championship00000000
VCD Athletic (loan)2014–15[49] Isthmian League Premier Division310031
Aldershot Town2015–16National League376311[50] 0417
Grimsby Town2016–17League Two5010101[51] 080
Macclesfield Town (loan)2016–17National League17274246
Yeovil Town2017–18League Two354201042426
2018–19League Two281100010301
Total635301050727
Port Vale2019–20League Two110100031151
Wealdstone2020–21National League10000010
Sutton United2020–21National League1200020140
Wealdstone2021–22National League2960000296
2022–23National League1370000137
Total42130000004213
Woking2022–23National League281320103113
2023–24National League1922012224
Total471540225317
Barnet2024–25National League00000000
Career total238421212021927352

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Antigua and Barbuda201520
201640
201841
202121
Total122

As of match played 8 June 2021. Antigua & Barbuda score listed first, score column indicates score after each Browne goal.

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
scope=colNo.scope=col data-sort-type=dateDatescope=colVenuescope=colCapscope=colOpponentscope=colScorescope=colResultscope=colCompetition
scope=row121 March 2018Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua & Barbuda71–03–2Friendly
scope=row24 June 2021111–01–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Norwich City Youth

Macclesfield Town

Sutton United

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Football League Retained List . The Football League . 12 June 2015 . 16 June 2015.
  2. Web site: Rhys Browne . Flown From The Nest . 2 September 2015 .
  3. News: Hunt . Mark . Cray Wanderers vs Charlton Athletic Kent Senior Cup . 8 July 2019 . News Shopper . 29 October 2015 . en.
  4. Web site: Triple Shock at Charlton as three key players released . Sevenoaks Chronicle . 12 May 2015 . 2 September 2015 .
  5. Web site: Charlton announce list of released players . Charlton Athletic F.C. . Olly . Groome . 12 May 2015 . 2 September 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150512194402/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/charlton-released-players-2015-2452676.aspx . 12 May 2015 . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: Shots Sign Trialist Browne . Aldershot Town F.C. . 31 July 2015 . 2 September 2015 .
  7. News: Aldershot 1-2 Gateshead . BBC Sport . 8 August 2015 . 2 September 2015 .
  8. News: Mariners sign Aldershot forward Rhys Browne. Grimsby Telegraph. 21 June 2016. 21 June 2016.
  9. News: Derby County 1-0 Grimsby Town . 8 July 2019 . BBC Sport . 9 August 2016.
  10. News: Rhys Set For Loan Move? . 8 July 2019 . www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk . 5 January 2017 . en-gb.
  11. News: Macclesfield Town sign Grimsby's Rhys Browne on loan until end of season . 9 July 2019 . BBC Sport . 12 January 2017.
  12. News: Eastleigh 0-1 Macclesfield Town . 8 July 2019 . BBC Sport . 21 February 2017.
  13. News: FA Trophy final - Macclesfield Town v York City . 8 July 2019 . BBC Sport . 18 May 2017.
  14. News: Rhys Browne: Yeovil Town sign winger from Grimsby Town for undisclosed fee . BBC Sport . 16 June 2017 . 16 June 2017 .
  15. News: Marsh . Ollie . Why new Glover Rhys Browne is aiming for automatic promotion . 8 July 2019 . somersetlive . 2 August 2017.
  16. News: Yeovil Town 3-0 Grimsby Town . 8 July 2019 . BBC Sport . 30 January 2018.
  17. News: O'Loughlin . Alex . NEWS Season over for Browne . 8 July 2019 . www.ytfc.net . 24 April 2019 . en-gb.
  18. News: Yeovil Town: Glovers release nine players after relegation from Football League . BBC Sport . 15 May 2019 . 15 May 2019 .
  19. News: Baggaley . Michael . Port Vale sign winger Rhys Browne . 27 July 2019 . Stoke Sentinel . 27 July 2019.
  20. News: Baggaley . Michael . Port Vale injury update on Ryan Lloyd, Rhys Browne and Cristian Montano . 15 September 2019 . Stoke Sentinel . 30 July 2019.
  21. News: Port Vale 1-0 Plymouth Argyle . 15 September 2019 . BBC Sport . 14 September 2019.
  22. News: Baggaley . Michael . Port Vale injury news on David Amoo, Tom Conlon and Callum Evans . 15 September 2019 . Stoke Sentinel . 14 September 2019.
  23. Web site: Penalties misery again as Mansfield Town bow out of Trophy at Port Vale . 3 December 2019 . chad.co.uk . 4 December 2019.
  24. News: Baggaley . Michael . 'He's got a lot of ability' - Port Vale boss on winger . 6 December 2019 . Stoke Sentinel . 6 December 2019.
  25. News: Baggaley . Michael . 'He has shown people what he's about' - Port Vale coach impressed with winger . 19 February 2020 . Stoke Sentinel . 19 February 2020.
  26. News: Baggaley . Michael . Port Vale talks with out-of-contract players as owners back club through crisis . 20 May 2020 . Stoke Sentinel . 20 May 2020.
  27. News: Cristian Montano & Rhys Browne: Port Vale pair sign new one-year contracts . 6 July 2020 . BBC Sport . 6 July 2020 . en-gb.
  28. Web site: 'He was doing well' - Rhys Browne leaves Port Vale after request . Baggaley . Michael . 30 August 2020 . Stoke Sentinel . 29 August 2020.
  29. News: Baggaley . Michael . 'He was doing well' - Rhys Browne leaves Port Vale after request . 30 August 2020 . StokeonTrentLive . 29 August 2020.
  30. Web site: Wealdstone sign two more following addition of Lench . West London Sport . 23 December 2020.
  31. Web site: R. Browne . Soccerway . Perform Group . 21 June 2016.
  32. Web site: Welcome Rhys Browne . Sutton United F.C. . 6 January 2021 . 7 January 2021 .
  33. News: Treadwell . Matthew . Sutton United promoted to League Two for first time in their history . 31 May 2021 . Sky Sports . 23 May 2021 . en.
  34. News: Squad news . 5 June 2021 . Sutton United Football Club . 2021-06-02.
  35. News: Browne returns to Stones . 23 June 2021 . Wealdstone FC . 2021-06-22 . en.
  36. News: MATCH REPORT Wealdstone 1-0 Barnet . 15 November 2021 . Wealdstone FC . 13 November 2021 . en.
  37. News: MATCH REPORT Maidenhead United 0-2 Wealdstone . 17 March 2022 . Wealdstone FC . 8 March 2022 . en.
  38. News: MATCH REPORT Wealdstone 3-2 Weymouth . 17 March 2022 . Wealdstone FC . 12 March 2022 . en.
  39. News: Bennett . Dan . Wealdstone sell top scorer Browne to Woking . 14 October 2022 . West London Sport . 14 October 2022.
  40. News: White . Tom . Woking seal survival with comprehensive final-day win . 28 April 2024 . Woking News and Mail . 23 April 2024.
  41. Web site: 2023/24 Retained and Released List. www.wokingfc.co.uk. 26 April 2024. 14 May 2024.
  42. Web site: First Summer Signing For Barnet Rhys Browne. www.barnetfc.com. 14 May 2024. 14 May 2024.
  43. Web site: Antigua and Barbuda 1 - 3 Saint Lucia . Caribbean Football Database . 10 June 2015 . 2 September 2015 .
  44. Web site: Saint Lucia 1 - 4 Antigua and Barbuda . Caribbean Football Database . 14 June 2015 . 2 September 2015 .
  45. Web site: Rhys On The Road To Russia . Aldershot Town F.C. . 1 September 2015 . 2 September 2015 .
  46. Web site: Antigua and Barbuda vs. Bermuda - 22 March 2018 - Soccerway . my.soccerway.com . 8 July 2019.
  47. News: Baggaley . Michael . Who are Port Vale's trialists - factfile on the four in action at Kidsgrove . 8 July 2019 . Stoke Sentinel . 6 July 2019.
  48. Web site: Tributes for ex-Potters Bar Town manager Steve Browne . Welwyn Hatfield Times . 3 January 2017 . 16 June 2017 .
  49. Web site: VCD Athletic Appearances Stephen Rhys Brown 2014-2015 Football Web Pages . www.footballwebpages.co.uk . 8 November 2021.
  50. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  51. Appearances in EFL Trophy