Jimmy Brownlie
Scottish footballer and manager
About Jimmy Brownlie
Lived 1885 – 1973 (aged 88). Jimmy Brownlie was a British association football player and association football coach.
James Brownlie (15 May 1885 – 29 December 1973) was a Scottish footballer and manager, who played as a goalkeeper.
Career Brownlie was born in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, and was an outstanding personality in Scottish football over many years, as a goalkeeper and manager. Almost his entire professional playing career, lasting from 1906 to 1923, was spent with Third Lanark, having joined them from local Junior team Blantyre Victoria to replace Jimmy Raeside who had moved to English football.
Brownlie continued to work in his chosen trade as a bricklayer while playing for Thirds
Brownlie scored a goal at least twice for Third Lanark, the first a rebound from a penalty kick he had taken against Motherwell in 1911 and the other during the 1914–15 season. however, newspaper reports from the relevant period do not indicate such an event took place. Other publications state both goalkeepers scored penalties, but although Motherwell did convert a penalty in the same match as Brownlie did, the report of the time indicated forward Thomas Gilchrist was their scorer.
In May 1923, Brownlie was appointed player-manager of Dundee Hibernian, who were renamed Dundee United later that year. He continued to play for a further season, but later made one further appearance in an emergency, at the age of 40 in 1926. His first managerial spell with the club found early success, with the Division Two title in 1925, and again in 1929, but he left the club in April 1931 on the brink of a third promotion.
He returned in 1934 with the club at a low ebb, one away from bottom of Division Two, and helped to effect a partial revival before he left again in October 1936. A third and final spell came in season 1938–39, in a dual role with Sam Irving; both men were also appointed as directors of the club at this time. In May 1939, Brownlie announced that he was giving up both roles due to the pressure of his other business interests.
After leaving his position at Dundee United, Brownlie continued to regularly attend the club's matches and saw the side finally return to Scotland's top division in 1960. In January 2019 it was announced that Brownlie was to be inducted into the Dundee United Hall of Fame at a dinner the following month.
Honours As a manager Dundee United Scottish League Division Two: 1924–25, 1928–29
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Important facts
People in Jimmy Brownlie's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Jimmy Brownlie's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jimmy Brownlie?
Scottish footballer and manager (1885-1973)
When was Jimmy Brownlie born?
Jimmy Brownlie was born on 15 May 1885 in Blantyre.
When did Jimmy Brownlie die?
Jimmy Brownlie died on 29 December 1973 in Dundee.
What was Jimmy Brownlie's occupation?
Jimmy Brownlie was an association football player and association football coach.
What nationality was Jimmy Brownlie?
Jimmy Brownlie was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jimmy Brownlie. https://biography.guide/jimmy-brownlie/
MLA: "Jimmy Brownlie." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jimmy-brownlie/.
Chicago: "Jimmy Brownlie." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jimmy-brownlie/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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