Eddie Brown - 1954 to 1959

A fast all-action centre-forward, Brown scored over 200 goals in 450 games for his five clubs.

Born in Preston in 1926 he first intended to take Holy Orders but opted for a career in football instead.

He began at Deepdale, signing professional forms for PNE in August 1948.

In September 1950 he was exchanged for Southampton's Charlie Wayman and in March 1952 switched to Coventry after failing to settle at The Dell although he managed 32 goals in 57 games for the Saints!

Blues secured his services in October 1954 and in his first season at St. Andrew's he scored some vital goals to help the club regain their place in Division One.

Brown played in the 1956 FA Cup Final against Manchester City and in the semi-final against Man Utd the following year.

He played a total of 185 games for Blues scoring 90 goals before leaving for Leyton Orient in January 1959, later playing for Scarborough, Bedworth Town (player-manager), and Wigan Athletic before retiring in 1964-5.

Eddie, an intelligent and articulate man, went into teaching after leaving football. At 52 years of age he gained a degree in French, from Newcastle Polytechnic, and taught the language until his retirement. Previously he had taught Physical Education at the local Catholic college and assisted Preston Grasshoppers Rugby League team with their fitness programme.

Eddie still stays in touch with some of his team mates from all those years ago and last year visited Birmingham for a re-union of the 1956 Cup Final side.

Now retired and living in his native Preston, he admits he still loves the game just as much as he ever did: "I won't have a bad word said against it.

"It is still, and always will be, the greatest game in the world," Eddie believes.