Musselburgh RFC are saddened to hear the passing of Sandy Brown.
Sandy passed peacefully at Archview Lodge Care Home, Dalkeith; a place he had called home for the last 5 years of his life.
During regular visits from friends and family he was always given the weekend rugby results from Stoneyhill and despite his illness, these always struck a chord with him.
Sandy was a passionate Musselburgh Rugby man and started his rugby journey at Musselburgh Grammer School playing the odd game here and there, with a light-hearted commitment.
However, things really took off during the 1957/58 season when he played a prominent role in the unbeaten Musselburgh under 18 team. This being 17 wins and 1 draw against opposition made up of the elite Borders clubs. A fine achievement by any stretch of the imagination.
Sandy was a front rower and distinctive by his red hair, ill-fitting scrum cap and big ears. George Innes, his second-row colleague and lifelong friend, recalls the scrum cap lasting 2-3 minutes of a match and then promptly being discarded.
Sandy would continue to make progress with his rugby carer and would play in the firsts for several seasons. He was fast and strong, and unusually for a prop, a fine sevens player. He quit playing at the relatively young age of 28, now qualified as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, work demands took over.
Nevertheless, Sandy remained involved at the club and became the first ever Colts coach in the 1973/74 season, once again with the able backing of George Innes. Notable names he coached - all first team players of the future - were Donald MacDonald, Derek Watson, Brian Telfer, Graham McKean and Tinker Ritchie.
Sandy’s name was highly prominent during the Colts 50th anniversary dinner last year.
Beyond playing and coaching he played a part in the Stoneyhill clubhouse being built and took ownership of the car park being laid in 1969 (only replaced last year of course).
He was a regular at home games at Stoneyhill, taking his favourite position on the Community Centre side under the canopy.
Obitury written by Sandy's nephew, Graham Jamieson
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