Colin Brookes RIP

Colin Brookes who made twenty Fourth Division appearances for Southport FC in 1963-64 season has passed away .  He collapsed and died while watching Halesowen Town in a Premier League Central match at Stratford Town on 25th November.  He was 83 years of age.

Born in Pender Hospital, Barnsley on 2nd January 1942, the only son of Dennis and Doris Brookes, Colin was educated at Longcar Central School and was an outstanding schoolboy footballer. In 1957 he was a member of the Barnsley Boys team which shared the English Schools Trophy with Southampton. He also represented Yorkshire Boys and England Boys making six appearances for his country and toured the continent with the England Youth squad captained by Bobby Moore during 1957-58.

Briefly a ‘Busby Babe’ at Manchester United Colin was homesick and returned to Barnsley joining his hometown team in December 1957 and turned professional in May 1959.He made 46 League appearances for the Tykes scoring five goals over the next two seasons. He was transferred to West Bromwich Albion (where he was kept out of the League team by Clive Clark) and there followed a season with Peterborough United.

Colin was signed by Southport in July 1963 as a fair haired fresh faced outside left and made an immediate impression scoring in Southport’s 10-2 pre-season friendly win over Wigan Athletic. He went on to make eighteen consecutive appearances before losing his place after a 4-1 defeat at Halifax. Although his skill was never in doubt Colin did not relish the hard tackling full backs that he encountered. He was recalled to the side to make two further appearances over the Christmas holiday games. On Boxing Day 1963 my dad and I were invited by John Church to watch the game against Doncaster Rovers from the Directors Box in the old Grandstand. There I saw Colin score a freak goal when his long, high intended centre passed over the head of the Rovers ‘keeper and into the net. His only other League goal was equally bizarre when he swung the ball from the touchline against Gillingham and Simpson in the Gillingham goal under challenge took his eye off the ball with the result that it ended up in the net.

Colin spent the whole of the second half of the campaign in the Reserves playing in twenty-four Lancashire Combination games. Released at the end of the season, Colin joined Southern League Yeovil Town and in 1965-66 concluded his playing career with Worksop Town being a member of their Midland League championship winning side.

After retiring from the game Colin joined the Police at Brierley Haill and first played and then Managed the West Midlands Police team. He also represented the British Police team and was a table tennis champion with the Police as well as being a useful club cricketer. Following his retirement from the police in October 1994 Colin began a long and devoted association with Halesowen Town, beginning as General Manager,  which continued right up to his death. He subsequently became Chairman and latterly President having purchased the club in 2018 before transferring ownership to his daughter, Karen.  A popular figure in Midland non-League circles Colin’s passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from his many friends in football which we wish to be associated with.

Michael Braham