Former Coleraine and Glentoran goalkeeper free agent after departing English club
Former Irish League goalkeeper Rory Brown is now a free agent after leaving English non-league outfit Bromsgrove Sporting following “a lot of highs and lows”.
Brown had his Coleraine contract mutually terminated last summer after making 47 appearances for the Bannsiders following a move from Glenavon.
The 25-year-old played 27 times for Coleraine during the 2024/25 Premiership campaign and also amassed significant Irish League experience at the Lurgan Blues, making 61 league appearances before being placed on the transfer list “at his own request”.
Brown, who has also spent time on the books of Glentoran and Institute, joined National League club Solihull Moors last summer.
His Moors involvement was limited to the National League Cup and he joined Bromsgrove, who ply their trade in the Southern League Premier Division Central, the seventh-tier of English football, initially on loan in November.
Brown’s stay was made permanent in January, but after helping the Worcestershire club preserve Step Three status, he’s now set to leave.
“Just want to say a massive thank you to everyone at Bromsgrove for the last six months - from the fans, the staff and everyone behind the scenes, the volunteers and especially Elliott Nash, who has been a massive help for me on and off the pitch,” said Brown. “As I move on and look back, there were a lot of highs and lows, but I'm just glad I was able to play my part in keeping the club at Step Three. I wish the club nothing but success in the future - thank you!”
With Brown’s previous Irish League experience, it’s possible Premiership clubs could be interested in bringing him back to Northern Ireland.
After joining Coleraine from Glenavon in a deal which resulted in Gareth Deane moving the opposite direction in January 2024, Bannsiders boss Oran Kearney said Brown “has been up there as one of the best ‘keepers in the league in recent years”.
Brown has also previously received high praise from former Lurgan Blues chief Gary Hamilton, who brought him to the club from Glentoran.
"Rory Brown was outstanding and I'll keep saying it: Rory Brown is the best goalkeeper in this league - I don't care what anybody says and nobody will tell me any different,” said Hamilton after an impressive performance against the Glens in 2023. "At 22 years of age to show the maturity he does, the amount of crosses he came for tonight in crowded areas taking them clean, got hit a couple of times and sometimes that means the goalkeeper doesn't come for the next one but Rory did.”