Jack Brownsword

Coaching Rejecting a two-year contract from Lincoln City that would have kept him playing, Brownsword immediately transitioned to coaching – becoming Scunthorpe United's club trainer. He would go on to become the only club figure involved in both of Scunthorpe United's only two runs in history to the FA Cup fifth round. The first in 1957–58 as player and the second in 1969–70 as coach.

His keen work ethic and knowledge of the game were cited as being instrumental in helping develop numerous players of the era, including Ray Clemence and Kevin Keegan. Keegan particularly praised Brownsword, saying: "He was great with me when I was developing as a player. I think we may have got on so well because he was from a similar background. He wasn't easy on us and was definitely a hard taskmaster. He always demanded 100 per cent and that is a great value to teach young players. I used to envy Jack, because he was good at everything technical and could repair anything. He believed that if you were fit, you could run for 90 minutes. Whether or not you could play was another matter!"

It also later transpired that Brownsword was instrumental in Keegan's dramatic transfer from Scunthorpe to Liverpool, personally recommending the player to legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly; with Keegan himself later recalling: "My move to Liverpool really came out of the blue. Jack had a big part to play in it."

Brownsword was later controversially dismissed from his coaching role at the club prior to the 1973–74 Fourth Division campaign, however. "I did feel a bit bitter when I got the bullet. Nobody ever told me why I was sacked, but my understanding was that a coach had written to the club asking if there were any vacancies and I created one! I was exceptionally disappointed that I was dispensed with in this way after all the service."

Scunthorpe United all-time record appearance holder (both in the Football League and all competitions).

Legacy

Throughout Brownsword's career, he won many admirers, including legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly and England boss Graham Taylor. Shankly called Brownsword "the finest full-back operating outside the top division"

He was also made a Vice-President of Scunthorpe United

In early 2012, the Winterton Iron Supporters' Club raised thousands of pounds for the Scunthorpe Alzheimer's Society in memory of Brownsword, with his widow Queenie, plus many of his ex-teammates and colleagues, including Kevin Keegan, in attendance.

Personal life Brownsword married his wife Queenie on Saturday 19 December 1953 at St. Andrew's Church in Burton-upon-Stather, on the morning of Scunthorpe's 2–1 victory over local rivals Grimsby Town.

Following his departure from Scunthorpe, Brownsword became a sales rep for a local glass company in Scunthorpe, until his retirement in 1988. There is also a small memorial stone dedicated to him in St. Andrew's churchyard Burton-upon-Stather, the village where he had lived for more than sixty years since signing for Scunthorpe.