Andrew Brown has been appointed the new head coach at Aspatria in preparation for the 2024/25 season.
The 45-year-old former back-row forward, who started the career as a scrum-half, got the nod after a process which saw several candidates showing interest in the role.
However, after discussions and interviews between all parties, the club have expressed their pleasure that he has accepted the role for the forthcoming season, and beyond.
Brown is well known in local circles and will be no stranger to most at the Aspatria club. This appointment follows his last role as the head coach at Scottish Premiership side Jed Forest in the 2022/2023 season.
He led Jed to a very respectable mid-table position that season in a league where Jed were required to punch well above their weight.
Mel Hanley, of Aspatria, said: “Firstly, both myself and Mike Scott are delighted that Andrew has accepted the role as head coach. Upon meeting, it was clear to both of us that Andrew shared the same ambition, beliefs and morals that we do, and want Aspatria RUFC to be about.
“Andrew was a very well respected, uncompromising player and he will bring these traits to Bower Park in his coaching styles. We believe we have got the perfect mix of someone who is known to most at the club, but will demand and receive immediate respect and attention from all.
“Andrew will be supported by the current coaching set up of Derek Benson as S&C/physio whilst Graham Andrews will be scrum coach and assist Andrew with the forwards. All will under the guiding eye of Mike Scott as head of rugby who will also be working closely with the backs.
“This is the first brick of what we hope is going to be a successful, and enjoyable season as we enter our 150th year in 2025.
“We look forward to seeing all current and returning players for pre-season, whilst we are currently encouraging any players who are interested in joining us at Bower Park to get in touch.”
Brown is a local lad, educated at Wigton’s Nelson Thomlinson School who moved south and played at Aylesbury for three years and Harpenden for a year, before returning to his hometown club Wigton.
He went on to captain the Greens successfully and having taken over the coaching in 2018, he then left during Covid before heading across the border to Jed.
Speaking to Cumbria Crack he said: “I’m really pleased to be back in coaching after a season out. It’s good joining Aspatria when they are celebrating their 150th anniversary so it would be nice to mark it with success on the pitch.
“To be honest I think there’s a great opportunity for all the Cumbrian clubs in Regional 2 North to have a good season.
“I have a meeting with Mike Scott on Thursday which I am really looking forward to. I think recruitment and retention are key factors so I’m sure that will be discussed.”
Brown, who played over 200 games for Wigton, only had the one season with Jed Forest but took them from second-bottom to a respectable mid-table finish.
He says: “I started pre-season last year but there were a number of different things going on at the time. We were having a baby and to be honest, I don’t really think the Jed players had bought in to what we were trying to do.
“When I left, though, I didn’t expect the team to finish bottom without winning a game and being relegated.”
Pre-season training at Bower Park has been set to start in early July and by the time the League season starts the new coach hopes the Aspatria players will have bought into what he wants his team to do on the pitch.
