Ambitious Junior Brown has eyes set on higher level with Shrewsbury Town
Junior Brown is 100-up with Shrewsbury but is determined to let his ambition take him further in the game.
The left-back clocked up his century of blue and amber appearances on Tuesday night as he helped Town extend their unbeaten start to the season to seven league games, writes Lewis Cox.
He has won praise from boss Paul Hurst on his improvement this season and will continue as one of the first names on the boss’ team sheet as Town head to 21st-placed Oldham Athletic tomorrow.
Brown, 28, joined Town on a free transfer from Mansfield Town three years ago and is a popular fixture with the Town fans, particular after his diving header in the penultimate game of last season against Southend all-but kept Hurst’s side up.
In doing so, as Shrewsbury fans sing, Brown sent rivals Port Vale down to League Two. He has noticed the chant and is grateful for the support.
“It’s a nice achievement (to reach 100 games) but something that I want to carry on improving on and play as many games as I can between now and the end of the season,” said Brown, who scored in last year’s win at Boundary Park, one of five goals last season. I felt I had a point to prove (when signing) that I was good enough to take the opportunity and I have done.
“I want to keep continue pushing to see where I can go in the future.”
On the memorable goal against Southend, he smiled: “When certain members of staff like to get at me I remind them that was key to us staying up!”
Former Town chief Micky Mellon gave Brown the chance to shine in League One after the ex-Fleetwood man had helped the Cod Army out of the Conference before spending a couple of seasons in League Two. Brown has no wish to be content with third tier football and is not lacking in ambition.
He said: “Of course, I see myself playing at a higher level, any footballer should think that about themselves.
“While you’re in the game you want to play as high as you can.
“The aim for me is to keep playing well and seeing where it takes me, whether that’s with Shrewsbury or somebody else.”
Long-serving Brown is a crucial part of of the furniture and he revealed how togetherness behind the scenes is playing a big part in preserving Town's magical form.
"It's a massive difference if you get on with your team-mates off the pitch," added Brown.
"We do things outside of training together, it makes a massive difference having that bond there.
"That camaraderie off the pitch means that when you go out on the pitch you're willing to fight that little bit harder and run that little bit further and you can see that in the performances."
The left-back reckons Town's intense pre-season excursion in Portugal was significant in more than a dozen new faces gelling.
"The position in the league and the form doesn't lie but in terms of players we've had some good players in all of the squads (in recent years)," he added.
"For whatever reason it hasn't quite worked out (before). We've got a togetherness and that stands us in good stead.
"The new lads have come in and we've all bonded straight away. The trip to Portugal helped bring togetherness.
"Weeks away bring out the best in people and it certainly has done for us."
