He started his career as an apprentice at Chesterfield, and made his debut on 14 May 1983 as a substitute in a 1–0 home defeat to Millwall in the Third Division.
[6] In December 1986, Ernie Moss and Brown were transferred to Stockport County for a joint fee of £10,000.
[7] In the summer of 1987 he moved to Lincoln City,[1] who had recently become the first club to be automatically relegated out of the Football League.
[8] He was the leading goalscorer as the Imps secured their return to the league at the first attempt.
Brown was originally signed by Matlock Town in 2002 as a player, but he and Gareth Williams were made joint player-managers in 2004 after previous manager Ernie Moss left for Hucknall Town.