John Brownlie

John Brownlie (born 11 March 1952) is a Scottish former football player and coach, currently assistant manager of East Stirlingshire.

John Brownlie
Personal information
Full nameJohn Brownlie[1]
Date of birth (1952-03-11) 11 March 1952 (age 72)
Place of birthCaldercruix, Scotland
Position(s)Defender
Youth career
Pumpherston Juniors
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1970–1978Hibernian211(14)
1978–1982Newcastle United124(2)
1982–1984Middlesbrough12(0)
1984–1985Hartlepool United19(1)
1985–1986Berwick Rangers15(0)
1986–1987Blyth Spartans0(0)
Total381(17)
International career
1971–1975Scotland7(0)
1972Scottish League XI[2]1(0)
1972–1976Scotland under-23[3]5(0)
Managerial career
1988–1992Cowdenbeath
1993–1994Meadowbank Thistle
1997–1998East Stirlingshire
2000–2003Arbroath
2019Berwick Rangers
2020-2022East Stirlingshire(Assistant Manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Brownlie played as a right back for Pumpherston Juniors, Hibernian, Newcastle United, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool United, Berwick Rangers, Blyth Spartans and the Scotland national team. Brownlie later managed Cowdenbeath, Meadowbank Thistle, East Stirlingshire, Arbroath and Berwick Rangers.

Playing career

Brownlie joined Hibernian from Pumpherston Juniors in 1969 and remained at Easter Road for nine years. He was part of the 1972 League Cup winning team and also earned runners-up medals in 1972 (Scottish Cup) and 1974 (League Cup).

He later played for Newcastle United, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool United, Berwick Rangers and Blyth Spartans. Following his retirement in 1986, he ran a hotel in the English North-East.[4]

Coaching career

In 1988 Brownlie gained his first managerial appointment at Cowdenbeath and won promotion from the Scottish Second Division before his departure in 1992.

He subsequently joined Clyde, where he worked as assistant manager under Alex Smith. Just after Christmas in 1993, Brownlie was offered the chance to succeed Donald Park as Meadowbank Thistle manager.[5] He signed a two-year deal but resigned after managing only five matches, having achieved a promotion at work which involved working on Saturdays.[6][7]

Brownlie later managed East Stirlingshire from 1997 until 1998.

After a spell running the youth teams at Raith Rovers, Brownlie managed Arbroath between 2000 and 2003 where he led the club to promotion from the Scottish Second Division and kept them in the Scottish First Division for two seasons.

He later returned to East Stirlingshire as a coach, taking temporary charge of the first team in 2008 after the resignation of Gordon Wylde.

Brownlie was appointed manager of Berwick Rangers in May 2019 ahead of a relegation play-off,[8] which they lost to Cove Rangers. He was replaced by Ian Little as Berwick manager after they were relegated to the Lowland League.[9]

Brownlie rejoined East Stirlingshire as a coach in July 2020,[10] and later stepped up to become assistant manager of the club after Andy Rodgers left on 4 January 2021.[11]

Personal life

His son Paul was also a professional footballer.[12]

Honours and achievements

Player

Hibernian

Manager

Cowdenbeath
Arbroath

Career statistics

International

Scotland national team[13]
YearAppsGoals
197110
197250
1973
1974
197510
Total70

Managerial record

As of 18 May 2019

TeamFromToRecord
GWDLWin %
Cowdenbeath19881992
Meadowbank Thistle199319945131020.00
East Stirlingshire19971998
ArbroathSeptember 2000October 2003127333460025.98
Berwick RangersMay 2019May 20193003000.00
Total130333463025.38
  • Arbroath statistics come from soccerbase website.
  • Cowdenbeath and East Stirlingshire statistics not currently available.

References