HIS last touch of a Non-League football couldn’t have been much better. The firm right wrist that set AFC Wimbledon on the road to redemption at the City of Manchester Stadium was a story nobody could ignore.
From cheering his team on as a fan in the Combined Counties League to fulfilling their Football League dreams, the only real surprise is that film producers have not been on the phone.
When Seb Brown saved so well from Luton’s Alex Lawless in the 2011 Blue Square Bet Premier promotion final penalty shootout, the young glovesman’s career – a lot like his club – seemingly had lift-off. How times have changed though for both club and for keeper.
A season-and-a-half later, the National Game Awards goalkeeper of that year is out in the cold as his club paddles in the icy waters of League Two relegation zone.
The bitter irony is that the 23-year-old has effectively been ousted by his two of his idols. Veteran Neil Sullivan – Wimbledon’s goalkeeper of their Premier League years – has been drafted in by new manager Neal Ardley, the ex-Scotland stopper’s former team-mate.
Brown’s not bitter, but a loan move to Woking has given him a new lease of life. And he’s not lost his sense of humour.
His text message told its own story. “Just on the coach up to Barrow for my first game back, and then it’s another one up the road at Southport on Saturday!”
Welcome back, Seb.
He said: “They say if you want something enough you’ve got to earn it. It was 600 miles all-in on Tuesday to Barrow, I got in at 4am and we lost 2-0.
“After not playing for so long I was a stiff as an ironing board – and on Saturday we were back on the bus up to Southport!
“But I’ve always been someone that wants to play no matter what. Woking’s fixture list may not have been kind to me, but it’s football and it’s what I need at the moment – a game’s a game. There’s no substitute for first team football.
“My body was in bits after Tuesday night’s game and the trip. The boys at Woking are getting a laugh out of it, they’re saying a goalie shouldn’t be feeling it as we dont do anything! But when you’ve not been at this level of the game for a few months, it all changes – even for us keepers.”
Eye-opener
Things certainly have changed for the former England C player, heavily tipped for a move to Coventry City before their financial problems.
Although, to his credit, there’s not a shred of animosity that two players he adored as a child have conspired to put his Dons career firmly on hold.
Manager Ardley, brought in to replace the legendary Terry Brown, decided in October that the number one needed to be taken out of the firing line. Bringing in old pal Sullivan on loan from Doncaster, it’s been a waiting game ever since.
But the lure of game-time under Garry Hill has allowed air back into in the lungs, whatever the future holds.
He added: “It’s initially for a month but it all depends on how the injury to Aaron Howe develops. I hope it will be extended as Woking are a great club and you can see they’re moving forward and want to get as close to the play-off places as possible. If not this season, then next year I’m sure they’ll be better after having a year to experience the Blue Square Bet Premier.
“Personally I’m not sure what the future holds. I have another year’s contract at Wimbledon but all I’m told is that I need to be playing, and it will help my case for getting back in the team if I am.
“It’s hard for them as at the moment they’re bottom of the Football League – they don’t know what division they’ll be in next season.
“I’ve got no reason to not trust what they’re telling me, so hopefully being given this time out of the team will re-focus me and I’ll come back stronger for the experience.
“It has been an eye-opener working with Neil Sullivan every day. He was my hero growing up as a Wimbledon fan, he helped keep the club in the Premiership – even though he’s got my place in the team now!”
