Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Albion blog: Honour Bomber
Friday 11th January 2008, 8:26AM GMT.
On a very slow news week, and a week with no game I have found myself with an opportunity to write about a subject I feel very passionate about, writes Albion blogger Jarrod Hill.
I have recently read Adrian Chiles book, (excellent read) and he describes a conversation he had with Jeff Astle’s daughter.
She relays to him how touching it was when her father died, and the tributes that followed and it stirred an emotion in me that I have felt for a number of years.
I know I have already written a blog previously relating to honouring our legends of the past, however, I feel I need to get this off my chest once and for all.
Tony Bomber Brown was not only an excellent player, and our record goal scorer, but he has also remained as loyal a fan as he was a player (as did Jeff Astle).
Now working for a local radio station covering every Albion game, you can still hear the love he has for our wonderful club in his voice.
He visits supporters clubs and games on a consistent basis and anyone who has heard him talk will know that he holds the Albion close to his heart.
I feel it is time to honour him in some way which is appropriate, whether it is naming a stand or the training facilities after him, or erecting a statue of him to honour his past achievements.
In truth I do not know how, but what I do not want, is to wait until he can no longer be part of the celebrations.
Without sounding morbid, I do not want to wait until it becomes a memorial, I want to celebrate what he was and still is to us, not mourn his passing.
I know we have been lucky enough to have many great players, and in some way they all deserve to be remembered.
But this is a man who has been entered into the PFA Centenary Hall of Fame and across seventeen years with the club played an incredible 711 games, scored an even more amazing 270 goals, won the League Cup and FA Cup and still remains our leading European goal scorer (and I think he may keep that honour for some time).
I think Bomber deserves to know how high Albion fans regard him, even fans like myself who are not old enough to have seen him play (although I feel like I did, due to videos and relatives stories), he is a huge part of our history and to this day remains a part of, “our Albion family”.
I intend to email this blog and your responses to Jeremy Peace, BRMB, and Paul Franks at WM, so with your help, you can start this tiny snowball rolling.
Ahhh, feels so much better now I have that off my chest.
Thank you in advance.
Albion fans, what do you think? Have your say below
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I remember Bomber Brown from my early days as a Baggies fan, his committment and goalscoring prowess were always an real excitement as a kid.I am perplexed that there is nothing at the club in honour of one of our greatest players.
Naming a stand after him would be a suitable tribute IMO.
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Bomber was in the midfield when i first started watching the Albion and is the benchmark that i base all other central midfielders against. Unfortunately, and probably not surprisingly most fall well short. Tackling, passing, shooting and loyality, have you seen any better in blue and white stripes?
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I have to totally agree with you, with Jeff Astle it was left to late for him to be there and receive the recognition he deserved for being a great ambassador to West Bromwich Albion Football Club, as you state the “Bomber” who’s voice is recognised by even the youngsters now due to his broadcasting at every match on BRMB or 1152am does still hold West Brom & everyone connected to them highly in his heart.
I unfortunatley was again to young to witness Bomber in the flesh banging in goals week in week out, but with my late fathers bleatings on the “70′s” the generation of the club does not seem to of passed me by if only through word.
I was also proudly named by my father after the legend that is Tony “Bommber” Brown.
I would fully back, and hope that word could be set around the Hawthorns for a statue to honour one of the great heroes that has graced our lives.
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I fully agree with you on this one, i was lucky enough to have seen Bomber
play mnay times in my youth,but,the one goal that will stick in my memory,has
to be the day at Oldham in ’76, what a fantastic goal,and what a great day, we
got promoted, i was one of the lucky ones to have been there, come on Mr Peace
do something for our Bomber !!!
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As a Wolves fan (hopefully I won’t get bad mouthed/told to push off etc.), I can only hear what my Uncle and mates tell me of Bomber.
I agree that some sort of honour should be given to him.
How many modern day players will deserve such accolades in todays money making football ways with mecenary attitudes.
Rival club or not, honours need to be made when thay are earned.
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in the best team ever yesterday he was in EVERY team, enough said but i dont think he will be the leading european goal scorer for too long,as we may qualify with the fair play award!!! he is a legend and up there with the best.
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Being only 22 i am not old enough to have seen him play. Which is a real shame. All i now of him as a player is what i’ve seen on old tv programs, read about in books and from what my dad told me about him. As a footballer he was a class above everyone else.
I did work on the players car park for the albion for about 5years and spoke to him, personally, every home game. And as a person, he is as good a person off the pitch as he was on it.
Thanks Bomber!
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Why not rename the boring sounding East Stand the Bomber Brown Stand. A fitting tribute I think to a true Albion legend. I was fortunate enough to see the great man play, always a true professional and very talented under rewarded player in his day.
Thanks bomber for some great memories (Oldham 1976).
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I was fortunate enough to witness him playing back in th 70`s along side many of the greats that have graced our pitch,everytime he got the ball in the oppositions half be it 30yds or 10yrds from goal you knew that if he let fly the ball would break the back of the net.A plaque on the Astle gates would go down quite well in my opinion.
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Tony ‘Bomber’ Brown meant – passion, goals, drive and determination- I was able to see him play though not too often, as the rest of my family support the C&B side of things. He was the player that as youngsters we all (wba fans that is) pretended to be when using jumpers for goalposts.
As soon as you think WBA you think of him, if not firstly certainly within the first 3 names you recollect, and I am sure that would be the case for those able to have seen Albion greats from before his time.
I feel it would be more appropriafe for a statue than a stand, as these can be renamed at a later date; and his loyalty to the club deserves a more personal tribute (IMHO).
Great idea Jarrod, wish you well with it.
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I think the re-naming of the East Stand is an excellent idea, I sit in this stand and would feel it an honour to sit in a stand named in recognition of our beloved Bomber!
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Having thought about it for a quite a while, i think the best way to honour arguably our greatest ever servant is a statue located within the new training facilities. It would remind all those bright young players what greatness and loyalty can acheive.
Legend.
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we should honour bomber!!!
we dont really have any names for our stand but i think we should name the stands after gr8 players like bomb.
i mean greatest appearence maker and goalscorer is some achivement and i wasnt (unfortunatly) to see the hey days but i sin the tapes!!!!!!!
and he was a right good player
it would be disrespectfull of the albion not to honour him after bein such great servent
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Whilst being too young to see him play live, I know that his man is a legend at our club, and he needs to be honoured. A plaque on the Astle Gates would not be enough. Lets have a statue of both of them celebrating a goal together.
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Good stuff Jarrod, I agree with idea in general and with regard to Tony. We have our stands named after Stan Cullis and Billy Wright in their memory and that is great but also it is wonderful to pay the same tribute to Bully while we still have him. The other example that comes to mind is Bobby Moore. Nobody seemed to bother with him until he died and then we recognised him for the legend he was. I have been watching Wolves and the Baggies since the 50s and in my opinion Tony Brown is your all time greatest player. He was a constant menace and to score that many goals from where he played was staggering. Perhaps the rambling thoughts of a Wolves fan counts for little on this subject but I would back any campaign that you start. Keep blogging.
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I definitely agree that naming a stand after Bomber would be the least the club could do; however, after Jeff died a lot of people wanted the East Stand named after him, which the club were reluctant to do because it would prevent them getting money out of potential stand sponsors. There’s no reason why the club would have changed its position since then. Unfortunately, the view of the money men takes precedence these days.
I’d be happy if they renamed the stands as follows:
Brummie Road: Jeff Astle Stand
East Stand: Bomber Brown Stand
Smethwick: Ray Barlow Stand
Halfords Lane: Ronnie Allen Stand
We should also find somewhere to erect the Keith Curle Gates.
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I to was lucky enough to be at Oldham that day, that is just one memory i have of Bomber. Our record goal scorer, who still loves the club dearly, he is one of us. The club should do something just so he knows how much we think of him, we will never see another Bomber.
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and so say all of us
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For those who don’t remember seeing him play, get hold of a copy of Albions 250 goals DVD and look at the quantity and quality of goals scored by The Bomber.
It’s criminal that he only won one England cap. A fan as well as a player, he should be recognized at the club he has served for so long.
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Jarrod, you make an excellent point about remembering players whilst they are still with us and not waiting till the day they die to think our statues etc…
I think renaming the stand like we did for Bully would be a fitting tribute to the great Bomber.
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I was also priveledged to be at Oldham in 1976. But ” Bomber ” will be remembered not only for this but also his great partnership with Jeff Astle. A modest and LOYAL Albion player who deserves recognition by the club. Re-naming one of the stands would cost Mr. Peace very little and would be appreciated by all the fans. ( Good PR also )
If Steve Bull deserves it at Wolves then Tony Brown most certainly does.
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tony brown, good player, nowhere near as good as
SUPER JOHN RICHARDS!!
NUFF SAID!!
by the way thought i,d just put a post on your blog as a get back for all the crass comments your Happy Boggie posts on ours!
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I was lucky enough to see bomber play on many occassions – and there has not been a better example of the attacking midfielder – EVER – ANYWHERE !!
His appearances for Albion and the number of goals he scored demand recognition – plus his loyalty and commitment to, and love of the baggies mean he will always be remembered – why not make it official ??
Rename the east Stand – The Tony Brown Stand !
I have a signed copy of Tony’s book – its one of my proudest possessions.
A true living legend !
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Bomber says it all really,
one of the greatest all round players ever to have graced the Hawthorns,
That overhead volley away at Leeds &
Promotion goal at Oldham.
Are moments I’ll never forget.
You are up there with your old mate
the “King” Albion through and though.
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good call let him see how much we appreciate him while he is still around to see it
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Fantastic idea, sometimes being the wrong side of 39 has it’s benefits – it means I did get to witness Bomber in action in the late seventies and he will always be a legend with me – the side of the 1970′s is one I can still reel off all these years later, and Bomber was one of the standout players of a great team.
And boy what a shot he had on him.
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I was fortunate to watch most of his career,fron the early 60s on.
Jimmy Hagan converted him to midfield in 1967.We were playing Southampton and were facing relegation. Bomber hit one from nearly 30 yards that their goalkeeper couldn’t hold. We won 1:0 and that started a run that took us half way up the table.
He definitely deserves to be honoured.
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I watched Tony make his debut ,and from that moment on he has been a wonderful ambassador to West Bromwich Albion and more importantly to Profesional Football.If we had a free kick close to the box and Tony took it we used to say “If its through the wall its in the net” and most times it was.I am all for Tony to be honoured by the club .The sooner the better.
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Once again Jarrod excellent blog, spot on.
My earliest memory of Bomber was my dad telling me we had a new player making his debut named Hovis (it was the time of the don’t say brown say Hovis ads. I was gullible even then,) when Micky Fudge made his debut I didn’t believe him until I saw it in print.
My recent entry on the top 10 site ranked Bomber second to the King only I suppose because he is still with us. In my memory as so often on the pitch, they are almost a single entity, Astle and Brown, like bangers and mash, inseperable.
If memory serves, both of them were subject to interest from Brian Clough but neither rocked the boat or caused a problem when it must have been a great temptation. (How like the dear departed Curtis.)
Tony is a Manchester lad, yet as others have pointed out like Jeff (Nottingham) he supported the team at the end of his playing days. There can only be one answer to your plea, a resounding YES. There have been many good, some even great players passed through our club but few if any deserve honouring more than this great player, a loyal and decent gentleman.
PS There’s only one etc.
If memory serves correct, your forays onto our site are either sensible comment or good natured teasing and therefore always welcome.
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Tony “Bomber” Brown was,in his day, in a team full of legends.John Osbourne, Dougie Fraser,John Kaye, John Talbot, Bobby Hope, Graham Williams,Graham Lovatt, Clive “Chippy” Clarke & of course, Jeff Astle managed by Alan Ashman.
This team WERE the Blackcountry team of the late 60′s-early 70′s, winning the F.A. Cup & finalists in a couple of League Cup.
He once scored 2 hat tricks in 2 consecative games against Notts Forest & County.
If your seriously advocating the naming of a stand after him, you’d need a Stadium the shape of an old Three penny bit & name stands after Laurie Cunningham, Big Cyrille,Asa Hartford, Len Cantello, Derek Statham etc.
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Tony Brown epitomses all that was great about the scintilating Albion sides of the 70′s. To hear him talk about the club and compare Megson and Mowbray teams to the teams of the 70′s is something a little special as it gives hope that we may yet be up there with the best of them again. I’ll never forget that moment he hit the back of the net at Oldham. The terrace felt like it took off and being only 12 and rather small my feet didnt touch the ground for about ten yards when I got the wrong side of a crash barrier. What joy. Give us all the chance to celebrate in public with the Bomber at a special ceremony naming a stand (unlikely as they are probably waiting for a sponsor) or statue!
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I am old enough, (sadly), but lucky enough, (gladly) to have seen Bomber in his pomp and he is up there for me with Ronnie Allen and Ray Barlow. There is no higher praise I could give. I sit in the boringly-named East Stand too and would vote with BOTH hands to name it after Bomber Brown, a true gentleman I have had the pleasure of talking to on several occasions at away matches and locally in Walsall.
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Saw him play quite a few times.
Fantastic footballer and a legend for WBA.
He also comes over as a nice guy too, which is a bonus.
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I agree totally with any comment that Tony Brown should be honoured now buy the club. Rarely do you meet such a guy as Tony, he always has a word for us guys who sit cloose to the press box and he is just a gent through and through with; many would argue, an unrivalled Albion career. Please do it now WBA and don’t leave it until we all regret it. Cheers.
Tony Brown Fan, what a player he was.
Reg Smith.
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with you all the way! although im not an albion fan appreciate the blog and im all for honouring the greats in their time!
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Excellent idear wbabomber as bomer came though youth system his self watch him play as a young boy great eye for a goal
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I could’nt agree more with everything that has been said and I consider myself very fortunate to have seen Bomber at his very best. I also was at Oldham John, No 4,
In These days of multi-million pound transfer deals I often think back to those days & wonder what price Tony Brown?, I think some sort of tribute should made before, God forbid, it IS to late.
Great blog Jarrod and I wish you luck with your campaign, take heed JP.
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Well said. Agree with everything. I saw Bomber many times and we have never had a more loyal or better club professional.
Let’s get this snowball rolling…
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Tony ‘Bomber’ Brown, a Legend that’s for sure, the best goal I remember him scoring was a cracking 35 yards drive at St Andrews back in Septemebr 1976, it flew in.
Tremendous stuff.
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I totally support any Honour that we can give to Tony Brown.
I once read a personal motto which is :-
Deal with Honour
Act with Courage
Achieve Humility
This fits Tony Brown very well, I saw most of his home games for us plus semis and Wembly finals. He was the bedrock for any Albion team he was in, a great engine, a tireless worker, unselfish, a strong but fair tackler, quick enough, a very gooder header of the ball, good control, a good passer, had a very powerfull shot and knew where the goals where. He was loyal
I remenber one match in particular, he was through on goal at the Smethwick end, when he was “rugby” tackled around the ankles from behind . The free kick was in the D and he took it, smashing the ball into the net. The spontaneous roar from the crowd was one of the best and loudest I ever heard at the Hawthorns. There were no histrionics from him when he was fouled but what an answer he gave them!! (no reds cards in those days!)
I have had the pleasure of shaking his hand a couple of times and would travel many a mile to do so again. He is Mr. Albion and represents all that is best in our Club. Pay him the next £million we have to spend.
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Yes I think that a statue would be ideal, and it should be situated at the rear of the east stand, If JP reads this, he should now realise that like Jeff Astle and Bob Taylor, and many more players over time, and even staff and fans, we are all familly, we all greived for jeff when he went. lets do something for Tony before its to late.
Come on you Baggies
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I can only wholeheartedly agrre with you Jarrod. I was lucky enough to have seen him play many times,in fact my first game was against Man U in the old brummie road, on a wednesday night. We won 6-3, and i wasw hooked, “bomber” scored a hat trick, and as someone else has said, that team is the benchmark for all other albion sides. We have a fantastic side now, and just maybe we can reach the same heights as the team of the 70′s, but i know we will never reach the same loyalty value that players like Bomber gave us. A statue would be very fitting, and i agree, do it while bomber is here to feel the real affection that is felt for such a true Legend.
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No5. it is nice to see a footy fan from down the road admiring what was such a talent and for anybody that slates you for giving your true opinion of a great man should be ashamed i like many other baggies will welcome any praise brought on a great player whoever they support.
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Paris baggie 16 – I like your idea about naming each stand.
I seem to recall Jarrod raising a similar point in one of his very earlty bloggs and i was against it.
However, on reflexion it does seem like a fitting tribute to our past servants – only problem would be choosing just 4.
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I totally agree with all the comments about the Great Bomber Brown.As mentioned,he was the only guy at oldham that day that was going to score.He was superb when volleying the ball.A volley at leeds Elland road springs to mind.A great servant and bloke.Re naming the East stand is an excellent idea.
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I’m amazed that the E&S would print a post like 22 who has come on here to spoil an otherwise great set of comments from both Albion & Wolves fans.
I also see he excuses his behaviour by blaming me.
Yes I post on the wolves pages and yes I can wind peole up – but i have only ever been respectful to the great players of the wolves past (and even their decent current players) – I would never post anything disrespectful about The Doog, Wright, Richards – even Bully. All are worthy of our admiration.
Its typical of the small minded minority that some people cannot see past the hate and pettiness and actually enjoy football.
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A brilliant man. I remember my dad enthusing about Tony Brown the young boy and the talent that he had. It would be sad indeed if he were not to be honoured in some significant and lasting way. We will never see has like again.
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Two Words about Tony Browm
MR ALBION.
Why is our club always afraid to honour its heroes/legends.
Kent wolf I disagree regis, cantello etc all great players .
But the likes of Ronnie Allen, Jeff Astle, Tony Brown are true legends in the History of West Bromwich Albion.
46. Happy… I totaly agree yes banter etc.. but true fans will never disrespect other clubs heroes/legends.
As a young kid (even thou’ I was a baggie) The Doog was one of my earliest memorys of football
Regards
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Motherwell have just announced they are naming a Phil O’Donnell stand. well done them. Some things are more important than money. If this is an outdated view, how about the T Mobile Bomber Brown Stand.
PS. 22 Dingle Kid.
On occasional visits to the Wolves site, I’m reminded of an old idea that if you sit an infinite number of chimpanzees in front of an infinite number of keyboards, you will eventually get the works of Shakespeare, you’re one of the ones that disprove this theory. Well done.
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Well done Jarrod. Hope you can get this snowball really rolling. If Mr Peace really is a long standing Albion fan as he claims and not just a businessman waiting to make a killing then he should know full well the affection in which we all hold Tony Brown. I listen to him most weeks on local radio commentary and his enthusiasm for the Baggies just shines through.
After all these years he is still one of us. Come on Mr Peace do something for a legend and the fans.Show that you have an affinity with us.Steve Bull scored most of his goals in the lower leagues for Wolves but he still gets recognition from them. Tony scored most of his in the top tier. I rest my case.
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I have had the pleasure of watching Bomber since 1970 and have enjoyed many wonderful performances. The scourge of Nottingham-7 goals against County and Forest in a week, the Oldham goal-which kept us on cloud nine for months and of course the best goal EVER scored- against Sheffield Wednesday-very rarely televised, must have been scored by a Midlands Team.
I had the unenviable task of calling on electrical contractors in West Bromwich at the time when Bomber worked for the opposition-everyone wanted to see him. ‘The Tony Brown- send him in’ and ‘David Who?’.
I really enjoy Bombers ‘unbiased’ match comments especially when he is not with ‘One eye’ Ross. He calls the game as he sees it-through the eyes of a true Baggie.
Tony has a bar named after him in the Halfords stand (should be the Brian Robson/Derek Statham/Len Cantello bar-more suitable). He deserves a stand-or at least a corner of the ground. Along with a gong from Mrs Windsor.
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Never had the priviledge of watching him play but I must say that it is about time we honoured one of our all time greats whilst they are still with us – over to you Jeremy!!
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All the comments on here point to one thing, Rename the East stand after him.
The 2 bad things I can say about Tony are:-
1)Just the one England cap
2)He had a 70′s dodgy perm.
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i dont know about a stand after him naming the ground after him wouldnt do him justice the record and service he gave us doesnt only make him our greatest player the midlands best ever compare his record as you have stated i bet no 1 comes close come on jeza the bomber brown ground sonds good to me
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Tony Brown = Mr West Bromwich Albion,Absolute legend & a joy to watch.He was a fantastic goal scorer & a loyal club man,he deserves to be recognised,if i had my way they would name the whole ground after him ! I can not speak highly enough about him,still loves the club today,a statue would be fitting as would a stand named after him,preferably a new halfords lane stand Mr Peace!
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Being only 19 years old, I never got to witness bomer brown but I’ve seen, read and herd enough to know that he is a true albion legend. Whenever I can’t make it the match I always listen to him on the radio and he truly is a wonderful man and whole hearted albion fan.
“Mr West Bromwich Albion” deserve to have a statue erected outside the east stand so when all the albion players park their cars before the match they can aspire to a true legend and wonderful gentlemen.
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Bomber’s best goals must include the one he scored at Sheffield in the cup, and no one has mentioned his display when our keeper was injured, and he went into goal at Blackpool, I think he must have forgotten the four step rule a few times but the ref was sensible.
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Well said Jarrod. However in those glorious days of “Bomber Brown” and “The King” we had a team full of excellent footballers who, we fans felt, would die for the club. One of my favourites was Bobby Hope who played as if the ball was tied to his feet. His immaculate passing to the wings to “Chippy Clark” and Kenny Foggo without them having to break stride and the stunning goals from distance with that left peg. Brilliant. “Bomber” and “The King” may have been superb players but for me Bobby Hope was the playmaker who made the whole team tick. So let’s not forget him.
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No modern club will ever have a finer servant than Bomber.
I was fortunate enough to watch him play for most of his career and met the guy on many occasions.
I will not say anymore as I will only be repeating the plaudits from above.
A great player, a credit to our club and a gentleman.
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I watched Bomber when i was a lad no one more than Bomber and Astle have the right for such an honour, and yes let it be done know and show Tony how much the Baggie fans and the club do think of him. Oh and by the way Bomber told me and my brother to p#@; off when we ran on the pitch in the early 70′s for his signture but we forgive him.
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It’s about time you Tesco’s started appreciating some of the *great* players you have had.
Ronnie Allen was as good as it gets. Still in my all-time top 10. Geoff Astle was a giant amongst strikers and Bomber Brown was an inspiration. If they had played at the Golden Palace, instead of the Hedgerow, they would all have been honored as the greats they will always be for those of us who saw them play.
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Tony bomber brown and Ronnie Allen where the best baggies players i have ever seen take penalties just ran up to the ball hit the ball as hard as they could ,if the keeper managed to get his hand to it he could not save it because the ball was hit to hard.Not like today’s footballers who side foot every penalty the take,if the keeper dives the right way he always saves it
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Norway Wolf.
We do appreciate our greats, we also appreciate our current players. Come on here lecturing us when you do the same. That’s if you ever go to any games. You Wolves ‘fans’ are amazing, you are really plumbing the depths now to try to find anything to have a go at us about.
PS Frank the Gas. Agree with you about Bomber’s penalties but wasn’t old enough to see Ronnie Allen. Would they be able to use this style with the modern day footballs which are much lighter and harder to control?
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Tony Brown – my boyhood hero.
When I was growing up in the 70′s he seemed to score every week.
Brilliant player and loyal ambassador for the club – what a shot on him !
I agree – call the East Stand the Bomber Brown stand.
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I started watching a poor Albion side in 1971 but thanks to Bomber Brown and the inclusion soon after of the genius that was Willie Johnston i was won over as a kid and have followed them for 37 years since then.
Everyone talks about the goal at Oldham but i remember his goal against Valencia in the EUFA CUP in the late seventies and his volley a few years earlier in the FA Cup when it dropped over his shoulder from a goal kick and he volleyed it in from about 30 yards against Sheff Wed i think.
I also appreciate the fact he didn’t follow Big Ron for the cash like Moses and Robson and also for the fact he follows us home and away even now and is probably our biggest fan.
How sad that people get stands and statues after they die,if it’s good enough for Steve Bull at his early age then it’s good enough for our Bomber who was by far the class player.
Come on Jeremy,pull your finger out before you sell up to the Yanks or Russians if we get promoted.They won’t have a clue about our history,you however are supposed to being such a big Baggies fan!
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Tony Brown is a legend at the Albion, and thankfully he is a LIVING legend.
How fantastic it would be for him to actually receive and enjoy the honour of having a stand named after him.
His records for us will probably never be beaten in these days of players agents and fast money.
He deserves his tribute – just don’t wait too long to give it to him.
BOING BOING Bomber !
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I think that someone who not only set an example on the pitch but has continued to support the club 100% off the pitch should be praised by the club he loves. Tony Brown is Mr WBA, and the club should honour him for his services. Your a credit to the club Tony.
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Please Mr. Peace Honour Bomber. The case made above is compelling enough without me adding anyomore to it.
I suggest renaming a stand and a statue outside.
Matt
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Why the debate? Surely this is a no-brainer.
Measure Tony against any criteria and the results are very impressive.
Goalscoring, loyalty, hard work, skill, teamwork, character, intelligence the list goes on and on.
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Unfortunately i never saw him play but i have seen the videos and some of his goals and he deserves a stand or statue or something while he is still with us unlike The King who died before we did anything for him.
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Bomber Brown Campaign Poem
Bobby Moore stands foot on ball at the head of Wembley way,
And Sir Matt surveys Old Trafford on a wet Manchester day,
A statue too for Shankly who’s been honoured by the Reds,
The greatest men remembered as football thoroughbreds.
There’s a sculpture too of Matthews, a legend up at Stoke,
A player who was knighted, just an ordinary bloke,
Even Wolverhampton’s got one; the great “Sir” Billy Wright,
He played for England many times, (and a club that’s really sh**e).
Have Albion got a player to match these football greats?
To deserve a Hawthorns’ statue standing by the Astle Gates,
Did we ever have a player, who for twenty years or more
Broke all appearance records, and never failed to score,
Who Baggies fans are proud to say “he played for us you know;
And I saw him play in blue and white all those years ago”
Yes we have an Albion player who surpassed the very best,
Topped the scoring charts one season beating Charlton, Law and Best,
And all this from midfield, not a striker out and out,
The greatest Albion goal scorer of that there is no doubt.
Who never left this club of ours when relegation came,
And continued his explosive goals as ever just the same,
Rarely missed a penalty, his blasts would burst the net,
The ball he hit at Hillsborough ain’t stopped rolling yet!
We have an Albion player, who won the FA cup,
And scored the all important goal to take the Albion up,
Then made his name all over again in Big Ron’s brilliant team,
Netting his reputation as our greatest goal machine.
Scored 2 against Valencia in a European match,
With a 70s perm and flailing tongue beneath his thick moustache,
The defining image of an Albion great, at the height of his success,
Let’s mount that image for all to see on a plinth of bronze no less.
His stats say 574 games and 218 goals scored,
Those stats deserve an honour, a lifelong club award,
For even now he’s scoring goals at every Albion game,
From the commentary (not the penalty) box, perhaps it’s not the same,
But it shows his love and support for the club after over forty years,
He’s lived and breathed the Albion, the good times and the tears,
What a journey it’s been since 62 – his debut at Ipswich Town,
Now it’s time we honoured our greatest player – Tony Bomber Brown.
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Bomber is a legend. Deserves recognition for number of goals and appearences
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I think Bomber Brown was an outstanding Player, and one that all Midland Football Fans should be reminded of when they walk through the Astle Gates at the Hawthorns, so my thoughts are that we should have a statue of him built just inside the grounds on the Right hand side before the Club shop. Tony Brown will always play a part in my life, not only because of him being a baggies legend, but as a Kid I would wear my Baggies kit with pride, being Bomber Brown scoring goals against my mates in the Park. He will always be up there with the likes of Cyrille Regis, Laurie Cunningham, Jeff Astle, Super Bob and many more LEGENDS!
John Richards, Stevie Bullsh*t and other Dingles are not fit enough to have laced this guys Boots! ALBION FOREVER….
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From Santabaggie.
The late great Bill Shankly once said of Ray Barlow tha “if he was up for sale now, you’d have to sell the ground to buy him”
Ditto Ronnie Allen and ditto Tony Brown : take note Jeremy, let’s show our appreciation of a great and loyal servant.
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The term “Legend” is over used today. Tony “Bomber” Brown DESERVES being called a legend. Most games, most goals for only one club. Mr. loyalty personnified. I was also at Oldham in 1976 when he scored to elevate us back to where we belong. Come on Jeremy, we know you also hold him in the highest regard so please either erect a fitting monument to one of our greatest players or name the East Stand “The Bomber Brown Stand”. Astle 3′s poem says everything we all feel.
“Boing Boing”
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Cannot agree more with the above blogs. Fabulous player, fabulous man. Lets honour him in proper style.
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Bomber is the greatest club-man our proud Club could ever wish to have had. He was a one-club player, scored bags of goals, played in a successful era, and has continued his association with the Club to the present day.
Who could ever forget that goal at Oldham that won us Promo…
Has to be a statue. Stands get pulled down, statues are for ever!!
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In this current age of footballers following the money trail and having limited club loyalty to say the least, Bomber Brown is a shining light to us all when it comes to illustrating the qualities and characteristics too many people lack today in the world of sport. Not only was Tony Brown one of the most effective and talented players of his generation, he gave me, as a Baggies fan of some 40 years, as well as countless others immense pleasure and joy when he played. His trademark thunderbolt shot, the moustache(!) the perm(!!), the loyalty to the club, the records set. THIS MAN MUST BE HONOURED!!! The club will be failing in the duty if they do not see that this happens. Mr Chairman – I urge you to make this happen!
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Tony Brown and Jeff Astle my two idles from the 60,s..and still are.
My view is name a stand after Bomber but also erect a statue outside the stand.Developers reduce stands to rubble(you never know) but a statue can be relocated.
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‘Bomber’is a true legend not only for the baggies but for football in general.
I had the pleasure to watch him at his best and will never forget the goal that got us promoted at Oldham in 1976.
I am still a season ticket holder and have in my opinion seen some great players and great goals watching the baggies.
Bomber at Oldham will stay with me for ever.
He is still a true ‘baggie’ and always has time to stop and have a chat.
He should be honoured now when he can see what he meant and still means to us.
Tony Bomber Brown- Albion legend!
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The East Stand – NO!
The BOMBER BROWN Stand – YES!
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LEGEND!
a statue definately would be gr8
im sure all baggies fans would contribute to cost if required
BOING BOING BOMBER BROWN!!!!
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I also agree with baggie9, both Bomber and Jeff should be honoured by naming stands after them.
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IN REPLY TO THE DINGLE WHO RECKONS JOHN RICHARDS WAS BETTER THAN ‘The Bomber’ well tony had better wear slip on boots because Richards was’nt fit to lace Bombers.
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