Changing Room Chat: Stars of the ’70s: No 4, John Brownlie

Published on 05/10/2012 01:43

REGARDED by many Hibs fans as the club’s best-ever right-back, John Brownlie had started off as an inside-forward, but found his “true” position when the 18-year-old replaced injured Chris Shevlane in the opening match of the 1970-71 season, and quickly made the full-back berth his own.

A solid defender, but possessing a natural athleticism which he used to great effect with regular, dangerous raids down the wing, he became a valuable member of the famous “Turnbull’s Tornadoes”. Manager Eddie Turnbull described him as “a unique talent”.

Brownlie made his Scotland debut at 19, winning seven caps, and helped Hibs win the League Cup in 1972. But a devastating leg-break while playing against East Fife in 1973 kept him out of the game for an entire year.

He battled back from that and continued playing for Hibs until 1982 when he was transferred to Newcastle United having played 211 times, scoring 14 goals for the Easter Road club.