Born on Co Durham, Alan (son of Sunderland player Chris Brown) was one of those most rare of creatures that would not only mov between Sunderland and Newcastle but would actually do so on loan.

Having made well over 100 appearances for the Mackems his loan move was all the more strange as he would only make five appearances for the Magpies in less than a single month, scoring 3 times, before being sent back to to Wearside and ultimately sold to Billy Bremner's Shrewsbury side for £35,000.

He would also play for Doncaster Rovers before retiring at the age of just 27.