James Brown (footballer, born June 1998)

James Brown

Personal information
Date of birth	(1998-06-04) 4 June 1998 (age 27)
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland [1]
Position(s)	Right back
Team information
Current team	Kilmarnock
Number	15
Youth career
	Shelbourne
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2018	Shelbourne	33	(2)
2019–2021	Drogheda United	75	(2)
2022–2023	Blackburn Rovers	1	(0)
2022–2023	→ Stockport County (loan)	16	(0)
2023	→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)	17	(0)
2023–2025	Ross County	58	(1)
2025–	Kilmarnock	0	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:49, 1 September 2025 (UTC)

James Brown (born 4 June 1998) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a right back for Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock.

Career

Brown began his career with Shelbourne, joining the senior team in April 2016. ^[2] He signed for Drogheda United for the 2019 season. ^[2] He won the 2020 League of Ireland First Division title with Drogheda, ^[3] and was later selected for the 2021 PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year, as well as being Drogheda's Supporters' Player of the Year. ^[4] He served as Drogheda's captain. ^[5]

In late 2021, he underwent trials with English clubs Blackburn Rovers and Bristol Rovers. ^{[6] [7]} He signed a contract with Blackburn Rovers in January 2022. ^{[3] [8] [9] [10]} He made his EFL Championship debut for Blackburn on the final day of the 2021–22 season, starting in the club's 2–1 defeat of Birmingham City. ^[11] On 29 July 2022, Brown signed for EFL League Two club Stockport County on loan for the 2022–23 season. ^{[12] [13]} He moved on loan to Doncaster Rovers in January 2023. ^[14]

On 7 July 2023, Brown joined Scottish Premiership club Ross County on a permanent deal. ^[15] He left the club at the end of his contract in June 2025 following their relegation to the Scottish Championship. ^[16]

On 30 August 2025, Brown signed for Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock on a one-year-contract. ^[17]

Style of play

Brown has been described as an "attack-minded full-back" who "is competent with both feet, can either cut inside or take the defender down to the byline in order to deliver a cross". ^[18]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 May 2025 ^[19]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Shelbourne	2016	LOI First Division	3	0	0	0	0	0	0 [a]	0	3	0
	2017		14	1	2	0	1	0	3 [a]	0	20	1
	2018		16	1	0	0	0	0	3 [a]	0	19	1
	Total		33	2	2	0	1	0	6	0	42	2
Drogheda United	2019	LOI First Division	23	0	2	0	1	0	3 [b]	0	29	0
	2020		18	1	1	0	—		—		19	1
	2021	LOI Premier Division	34	1	1	0	—		—		35	1
	Total		75	2	4	0	1	0	3	0	83	2
Blackburn Rovers	2021–22 [20]	EFL Championship	1	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2022–23 [21]		0	0	—		—		—		0	0
	Total		1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
Stockport County (loan)	2022–23 [21]	EFL League Two	16	0	2	0	2	0	2 [c]	0	22	0
Doncaster Rovers (loan)	2022–23 [21]	EFL League Two	17	0	—		—		—		17	0
Ross County	2023–24 [22]	Scottish Premiership	31	1	1	0	6	1	2 [d]	0	40	2
	2024–25 [23]		27	0	1	0	5	1	0 [e]	0	33	1
	Total		58	1	2	0	11	2	2	0	73	3
Kilmarnock	2025–26 [24]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
Career Total			200	5	10	0	15	2	13	0	238	7

1. Appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup
2. Appearances in the 2019 League of Ireland First Division Promotion Playoffs
3. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
4. Appearances in the 2024 Scottish Premiership Playoffs
5. Appearances in the 2025 Scottish Premiership Playoffs

Honours

Drogheda United

• League of Ireland First Division: 2020 ^[25]

Individual

• PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year: 2021 ^[26]

References

1. Donnelly, David (2 March 2022). "Ex-Drogheda captain James Brown signs new contract with Blackburn Rovers". DublinLive.
2. "Extratime.com – Extratime.ie – James Brown". extratime.com.
3. FC, Blackburn Rovers. "James joins!". Blackburn Rovers FC.
4. "Team of the Year honour is music to ears of Drogheda's James Brown". independent.
5. "SKIPPER FEELS DROGS NEED POINTS FAST". independent.
6. "Drogheda United face exodus as cross-channel clubs eye up four promising stars". independent.
7. "Drogheda defender James Brown set for move to Championship side Blackburn Rovers". independent.
8. "Blackburn bring in defender Brown" – via bbc.co.uk.
9. Team, The42. "Blackburn Rovers confirm signing of James Brown from Drogheda United". The42.
10. "Confirmed: Drogheda United defender James Brown joins Blackburn Rovers on free transfer". independent.
11. "Brown's debut delight!". Rovers.co.uk . 10 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
12. "County feeling good as James Brown checks in". stockportcounty.com. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
13. "Blackburn loan defender Brown to Stockport" – via bbc.co.uk.
14. "Doncaster sign defenders Brown and Nelson on loan" – via bbc.co.uk.
15. "Brown signs for the Staggies". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
16. "Ross County: James Brown and Scott Allardice exit at end of contracts". BBC Sport. 28 May 2025.
17. Highet, Lochlin (30 August 2025). "James Brown joins Kilmarnock".
18. Crooke, Jaquob (3 January 2022). "All you need to know about Rovers' new recruit James Brown". LancsLive.
19. James Brown at Soccerway
20. "Games played by James Brown in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
21. "Games played by James Brown in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
22. "Games played by James Brown in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
23. "Games played by James Brown in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
24. "Games played by James Brown in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
25. Malone, Emmet. "Drogheda United finally on the up and up after dramatic night". The Irish Times.
26. "Bohs earn four spots on PFAI Team of the Year". RTÉ.ie . 26 November 2021. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2024.