Tony Browell Testimonial

This Saturday (May 19th) Percy Main Amateurs will stage a well deserved testimonial game for long serving centre half Tony Browell who has clocked up 500 appearances for the club since signing as a teenager back in September 1995. Very few players in local football have played so many games for one club and the loyalty and dedication of Browell over the years will no doubt ensure a healthy turn out at Purvis Park.
During the years Browell has been a model of consistency at the club and has won Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year awards on numerous occasions, gaining the respect of his fellow and opposing players, club committee and supporters alike and has always set a positive example to younger players in the game. A player, known as a no nonsense defender, who is rarely beaten in the air has also weighed in with his fair share of goals for The Main over the years and actually led the goalscoring charts for some months last season, scoring 9 times mainly from corners and free kicks. Browell had a spell at North Shields in the mid 2000's and suffered an horrific leg break in a FA Cup qualifying round game at Winterton Rangers in August 2005, but thankfully his love of the game and determination to carry on playing football meant that his playing days were far from over. The Main's current team who have just completed their Northern Alliance Premier League league season in some style, having recorded 3 consecutive victories over Murton, Hebburn Reyrolle and Harraby, will face a squad of Percy Main "Old Boys" managed by Bob Rodgerson, who as manager of the club from 1993 to 2008, astutley brought Browell to Percy Main as a promising youngster, who has more than fulfilled his early potential. The "Old Boys" X1 will be made up of players who have lined up alongside Browell during this time at the club. Many who have long since moved on to pastures new and others who have played for The Villagers recently. Among those who will be playing for the opposition will be the likes of Brian Smith, Ian Hall, Jason Ritchie, Robbie and Denis Livermore, Chris Locke, Lee Gray and many others, a keenly contested game is expected. The match will be refereed by an experienced team of Northern Alliance officials in Keith Scoffham, Tony Cash and Terry Lloyd. Admission is £2 and a souvenir programme is to be produced. Tony has also kindly requested that the days proceeds go towards replacing the roof on the club's pavilion. Kick off is 2.30pm and following the game, the celebrations will continue at the Victoria, Tynemouth Road, North Shields (formerly the Tap and Spile) - all are welcome to attend.