Every Game Aim for Brown

Colchester United’s Wayne Brown this week revealed an aspiration to complete the rest of the season in the starting XI, meaning he would have featured in every minute of the club’s median Championship season.

“It was one of my ambitions to play every game. I have never done that before in my career,” the defender sated in the match programme prior to Easter Monday’s game at home to Leeds United.

“Should I make it to the end of the season playing every game, it would be a big milestone for me,” added Brown, a player who has been solid and dependable throughout the campegn.

The club’s vice-captain has managed to overcome a number of injury worries and remained fit enough to compete in all of the league matches to date, as well as two defeats to MK Dons and Barnet, in the League and FA Cup respectively.

“I though I would miss a match when we went to play Ipswich at Portman Road earlier this year” he explained. The most recent doubt over his fitness came before the last game. He had a late fitness test ahead of kick-off, coming through unscathed for appearance number 44 of the season.

Injury worries have been few and far between this season for Colchester, which Brown attributed to the good work of Layer Road’s medial staff, and Physio Tony Flynn: “Tony has done a great job. For a squad our size, it’s important not to get too many injuries.”

He conceded that last season the players “were hanging around waiting for treatment” but the appointment of fitness coach, Donough Holohan, in the summer has cured that problem.

This has allowed players like Brown to focus on playing as well as possible; striker Chris Iwelumo has had a fantastic season in U’s colours, despite undergoing surgery during the close season. Due to his ever-present record, Wayne Brown is among those contending one of the many Player of the Year awards.

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