Rhys Browne

Rhys Browne
Personal information
Full name Stephen Rhys Browne[1]
Date of birth (1995-11-16) 16 November 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Romford, England
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger; forward
Team information
Current team
 Barnet
Number 8
Youth career
Interwood
2012–2014 Norwich City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Charlton Athletic 0 (0)
2015 → VCD Athletic (loan) 3 (1)
2015–2016 Aldershot Town 37 (6)
2016–2017 Grimsby Town 5 (0)
2017 → Macclesfield Town (loan) 17 (2)
2017–2019 Yeovil Town 63 (5)
2019–2020 Port Vale 11 (0)
2020–2021 Wealdstone 1 (0)
2021 Sutton United 12 (0)
2021–2022 Wealdstone 42 (13)
2022–2024 Woking 47 (15)
2024– Barnet 11 (4)
International career‡
2015– Antigua and Barbuda 13 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:48, 5 January 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 04:36, 28 September 2024 (UTC)

Stephen Rhys Browne (born 16 November 1995) is an Antiguan footballer who plays for National League club Barnet. Able to play as a winger or striker, he has been capped by the Antigua and Barbuda national football team.

A former youth team player at Norwich City and Charlton Athletic, he also spent time on loan at Isthmian League side VCD Athletic. He won the FA Youth Cup and Norfolk Senior Cup with Norwich but did not play a first-team game for the "Canaries". He spent the 2015–16 season with Aldershot Town in the National League before winning a move into the English Football League with Grimsby Town in June 2016. From Grimsby, he was loaned out to Macclesfield Town and played on the losing side in the 2017 FA Trophy final. He joined Yeovil Town in June 2017 before departing following the club's relegation out of the Football League at the end of the 2018–19 season. However, he remained in the Football League, signing with Port Vale in July 2019. He left the club in August 2020 and joined Sutton United via Wealdstone in January 2021. Sutton went on to win promotion as National League champions at the end of the 2020–21 season. He rejoined Wealdstone in June 2021 and was sold to Woking in October 2022. He signed with Barnet in June 2024.

Club career

Early career

Browne joined Norwich City as a youth team player, having previously played for Interwood.[3] He was part of the squad that won the 2012–13 FA Youth Cup with 4–2 aggregate victory over Chelsea, as well as the Norfolk Senior Cup that same season with a 2–0 win over Wroxham.[3] He never made the senior team at Carrow Road however and was released by Norwich at the end of the 2013–14 season, subsequently joining Charlton Athletic. From Charlton he was loaned out to VCD Athletic of the Isthmian League.[4] He left The Valley after being released by Charlton in May 2015.[5][6]

Aldershot Town

Following his release from Charlton, Browne went on trial with National League club Aldershot Town.[7] During his time on trial he scored in friendlies against Basingstoke Town and Chelsea under-21s,[7] and impressed manager Barry Smith enough to win a contract on 31 July 2015.[7] Browne made his competitive début and scored his first goal for the "Shots" in a 2–1 defeat to Gateshead at the Recreation Ground on 8 August.[8] He went on to score seven goals in 41 appearances across the 2015–16 season as Aldershot posted a 15th-place finish.

Grimsby Town

On 21 June 2016, Browne signed a two-year contract with newly-promoted League Two side Grimsby Town for an undisclosed fee.[9] He made his debut for the "Mariners" in the EFL Cup, coming on as a 55th-minute substitute for Sean McAllister in a 1–0 defeat at Derby County.[10] He made a further seven appearances for the club, all as a substitute, and new manager Marcus Bignot revealed that he was working to get the young striker a loan move closer to his family home after time spent on compassionate leave following the death of his father.[11] On 12 January, he joined National League side Macclesfield Town on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[12] He scored his first goal in his first league start for the "Silkmen", in a 1–0 win at Eastleigh on 21 February.[13] He scored four goals in six games of the club's FA Trophy run, including one in the final at Wembley Stadium, though Macclesfield would lose the game 3–2 to York City.[14] In all he scored six goals in 24 games during his time at Moss Rose.

Paul Hurst brought me in at Grimsby and left so there was a change in manager. After that it was a bit of a rollercoaster and not knowing how to settle so it wasn't anything about not liking it. A lot was happening with me off the field and I needed to play some games (out on loan) and take away what was going on. I was in a position where I was away from my family and not playing games.

— Browne arrived at Blundell Park at a bad time and found it difficult to settle.[15]

Yeovil Town

On 16 June 2017, Browne left Grimsby for Yeovil Town, signing a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[16] He stated that the "Glovers" aim was to achieve automatic promotion, though admitted that "I've never really played in this league before so I don't really know what the test is".[17] On 30 January, he scored past former club Grimsby in a 3–0 win at Huish Park.[18] He ended the 2017–18 campaign with six goals in 42 games as Darren Way's Yeovil posted a 19th-place finish. Having contributed just one goal from 30 appearances in the 2018–19 season and missing the end-of-season run-in with a hamstring injury, Yeovil released Browne following the club's relegation from the Football League.[19][20]

Port Vale

Browne signed for League Two side Port Vale on 27 July 2019, having been on trial at the club throughout pre season; he had previously played under manager John Askey at Macclesfield Town.[21] A hamstring problem caused him to miss the first month of the 2019–20 season, and he eventually made his debut for the "Valiants" on 14 September, replacing Callum Evans 35 minutes into a 1–0 win over Plymouth Argyle at Vale Park; ironically Evans was taken off due to a hamstring injury, as was winger David Amoo, leaving Browne with an opportunity to stake a first-team place in their absence.[22][23][24] He scored his first goal for the club in an EFL Trophy tie against Mansfield Town on 3 December.[25] After the game Askey commented that Browne "has a tendency to be lazy" but "has got a lot of ability [and] if he is confident then he can play at a high level".[26] Speaking in February, first-team coach Danny Pugh said that "he has done exceptionally well in the last couple of games... [though] it has been a frustrating season [for him and] maybe he has not played as much as he would have liked".[27] He signed a new one-year contract after he ended the campaign with one goals in 15 appearances.[28][29] On 29 August 2020, Browne left Port Vale having had his contract terminated at his request.[30] Askey cited family reasons for the player's departure, adding that "it was a shame because he was doing well".[31]

Non-League

On 23 December 2020, Browne signed for National League side Wealdstone.[32] He made only one brief appearance for the "Stones", in a 4–0 defeat at Maidenhead United on Boxing day.[33] On 6 January 2021, Browne signed for fellow National League side Sutton United.[34] He made 14 appearances in the second half of the 2020–21 season, as Sutton secured promotion into the Football League as champions of the National League.[33][35] However, he was one of seven players released in the summer by manager Matt Gray.[36] Browne returned to Wealdstone in June 2021, signing a one-year contract with an option for a second year.[37] On 13 November 2021, Browne scored his first goal for the Stones, coming off the bench and scoring the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Barnet at Grosvenor Vale.[38] In March 2022, Browne scored three goals in two games, with a goal away to Maidenhead United and a brace in a 3–2 win over Weymouth.[39][40] He ended the 2021–22 season with six goals in 29 games.[2]

On 14 October 2022, Browne joined league rivals Woking for an undisclosed fee, scoring seven goals in thirteen league games early in Wealdstone's season.[41] He scored 13 goals from 31 appearances in the remainder of the 2022–23 campaign, helping Woking to a fourth-place finish.[2] He featured 22 times in the 2023–24 season, including in the final day victory over AFC Fylde that secured safety from relegation.[2][42] Following their final-day survival, he was offered a new contract by Woking.[43]

Barnet

On 14 May 2024, Browne joined National League rivals Barnet on a two-year deal.[44]

International career

Browne made his international début for Antigua and Barbuda at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on 10 June 2015, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute for Keiran Murtagh in a 4–1 defeat to Saint Lucia in the second round of 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF qualification.[45] His second cap and first international start came in the second leg, where he was substituted in the 46th-minute in a 4–1 win; Antigua won 5–4 on aggregate, and advanced to the third round.[46][47] He scored his first international goal on 21 March 2018, opening the scoring in a 3–2 friendly win over Bermuda.[48]

Style of play

On signing for Aldershot Town, manager Barry Smith said, "Rhys fulfils everything that we're looking for in a wide player – he's quick, he's got a trick, he's enthusiastic and has had a good upbringing in football. When you see someone as exciting as Rhys you want to have these type of players in your squad".[7] Yeovil manager Darren Way commented that "Rhys is technically a very, very gifted player and someone I've been aware of for the last two years. He likes to get the ball to feet, be positive in one-on-one situations and he's got a good end product in the final third".[49]

Personal life

Browne is the son of former Yeovil Town footballer Steve Browne.[50]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 January 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Charlton Athletic 2014–15[51] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
VCD Athletic (loan) 2014–15[52] Isthmian League Premier Division 3 1 0 0 — — 3 1
Aldershot Town 2015–16[53] National League 37 6 3 1 — 1[a] 0 41 7
Grimsby Town 2016–17[54] League Two 5 0 1 0 1 0 1[b] 0 8 0
Macclesfield Town (loan) 2016–17[54] National League 17 2 — — 7[a] 4 24 6
Yeovil Town 2017–18[55] League Two 35 4 2 0 1 0 4[b] 2 42 6
2018–19[56] League Two 28 1 1 0 0 0 1[b] 0 30 1
Total 63 5 3 0 1 0 5 0 72 7
Port Vale 2019–20[57] League Two 11 0 1 0 0 0 3[b] 1 15 1
Wealdstone 2020–21[2] National League 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 1 0
Sutton United 2020–21[2] National League 12 0 0 0 — 2[a] 0 14 0
Wealdstone 2021–22[2] National League 29 6 0 0 — 0 0 29 6
2022–23[2] National League 13 7 0 0 — 0 0 13 7
Total 42 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 42 13
Woking 2022–23[2] National League 28 13 2 0 — 1[a] 0 31 13
2023–24[2] National League 19 2 2 0 — 1[a] 2 22 4
Total 47 15 4 0 — 2 2 53 17
Barnet 2024–25[2] National League 11 4 0 0 — 1[a] 1 12 5
Career total 249 46 12 1 2 0 22 10 285 57
  1. ^ a b c d e f Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. ^ a b c d Appearances in EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 18 November 2023.[58]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Antigua and Barbuda 2015 2 0
2016 4 0
2018 4 1
2021 2 1
2023 1 0
Total 13 2
As of match played 8 June 2021. Antigua & Barbuda score listed first, score column indicates score after each Browne goal.[58]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 21 March 2018 Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua & Barbuda 7  Bermuda 1–0 3–2 Friendly
2 4 June 2021 11  Grenada 1–0 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Norwich City Youth

Macclesfield Town

Sutton United

References

  1. ^ "The Football League Retained List". The Football League. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rhys Browne at Soccerway
  3. ^ a b c d "Rhys Browne". Flown From The Nest. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  4. ^ Hunt, Mark (29 October 2015). "Cray Wanderers vs Charlton Athletic Kent Senior Cup". News Shopper. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Triple Shock at Charlton as three key players released". Sevenoaks Chronicle. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  6. ^ Groome, Olly (12 May 2015). "Charlton announce list of released players". Charlton Athletic F.C. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d "Shots Sign Trialist Browne". Aldershot Town F.C. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Aldershot 1-2 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  9. ^ "Mariners sign Aldershot forward Rhys Browne". Grimsby Telegraph. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "Derby County 1-0 Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Rhys Set For Loan Move?". www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk. 5 January 2017. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Macclesfield Town sign Grimsby's Rhys Browne on loan until end of season". BBC Sport. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  13. ^ "Eastleigh 0-1 Macclesfield Town". BBC Sport. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  14. ^ "FA Trophy final - Macclesfield Town v York City". BBC Sport. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  15. ^ Hancock, Lewis (15 September 2017). "INTERVIEW | Browne relishing Grimsby return". www.ytfc.net. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
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  46. ^ "Saint Lucia 1 - 4 Antigua and Barbuda". Caribbean Football Database. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  47. ^ "Rhys On The Road To Russia". Aldershot Town F.C. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
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  54. ^ a b "Games played by Rhys Browne in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  55. ^ "Games played by Rhys Browne in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
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  57. ^ "Games played by Rhys Browne in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  58. ^ a b "Browne, Rhys". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 3 July 2016.