After a taste of the Premier League with Hull City, Leicester defender, Wayne Brown, is determined to have another crack at the big time. Now in the twilight of his career, the 32-year-old has enjoyed impressive spells at a number of clubs, but is still hungry for success. With a League One winner’s medal in his back pocket and the club adapting to the Championship well, the Walkers Stadium seems to be the perfect place for Brown to realise his goals.

The uncompromising centre-half enjoyed a successful play-off campaign during his time at Hull. After Leicester’s convincing home wins over Scunthorpe and Nottingham Forest, and some decent results away from home, Wayne is confident that City can finish the season in the top six.

“We have games in hand so we’ve got to use that to our advantage. It’s so tight, if you lose three games you can drop down into the bottom half, but if you win three games, you can be in the top three. We’ve just got to keep going.

“Realistically, is it achievable? Definitely. If you look at the Championship then there’s nothing in it. With the squad and the quality we’ve got here, we’ve got as good a chance as anybody to finish in that top six. Once you finish there it can be a bit of a lottery, but let’s get there first and deal with who comes our way then.”

Brown revealed how losing star striker, Matty Fryatt, to injury has been a major blow to the squad, but has meant that other players have had to respond.

“It’s never easy losing your best players and obviously Matty’s been our top scorer this season. It puts a bit of added responsibility on the shoulders of the other lads to start mucking in with a few goals, but they’ve responded in good fashion, with Gally (Paul Gallagher) scoring a hat-trick for example. Matty is going to be a big miss for us, but we’ve got to put that aside now.”

After experiencing the Premier League with Hull City, Brown is determined to test himself against the best again and that was a major factor behind his decision to join Leicester City.

“That’s why you’re in the game, to play at the highest level and the Premier League is the crème de le crème. That’s where you want to play and obviously having a taste of Premier League football, I want to get back there and sample that again.

“That was my aim when I signed for Leicester. I wanted to get more medals in the cabinet and play in the Premier League. I want to win as many trophies as I can, hence why I didn’t stay at Hull. I wanted to improve my career and I think Leicester is the perfect opportunity to do that.”

Wayne has flourished since his move south from Hull, playing regular first team football and reaching a good level of consistency. The 32-year-old sees playing under manager Nigel Pearson as a major factor in this success and sees Pearson’s managerial style as a complete contrast to his previous gaffer at Hull, Phil Brown.

“The fact that Nigel was manager was another big reason why I wanted to come here. In his time he was one of the best centre-halves there was and there’s nobody better for me to learn from.

“I’ve enjoyed my time under him. He’s chalk and cheese to what I was used to at Hull under Phil Brown. Nigel’s very placid and keen for the lads to have the limelight, whereas Phil Brown liked the limelight himself. Nigel lets the lads do the talking on the pitch and I think that’s the way it should be.”

As well as he has settled on the pitch, Wayne still travels between Leicester and Hull during the week, but sees it as a worthwhile compromise.

“It’s not ideal because I’m still based in Hull, so I’m doing a lot of travelling. I’ve got a place in Leicester which I rent out, but to see my wife I go back to Hull two or three times a week. It’s a sacrifice that I wanted to make to better myself and try and win more trophies.

“Being away from my wife is something I had to weigh up when I signed for Leicester. Everywhere I’ve been, my wife’s been with me. She’s got her own ambitions after setting up a shop in Hull and at times it’s hard. But, at the end of the day it’s got to be done.”

When he’s not playing football, training or travelling, Browny enjoys the odd round of golf and getting plenty of rest.

“I like golf. A few of the lads here are keen golfers so we have a game together. I like snooker, but I don’t really get a lot of time to play. I just like chilling out really. When you are playing as many games as we’re playing, it’s important that you get your rest.

“The gaffer’s good like that. He realises that the fixtures come thick and fast and knows when to give the lads a day off and when to work us hard. I think we have responded to that.”

With a wealth of experience at his disposal, Brown has enjoyed playing alongside promising defender, Jack Hobbs, at the heart of City’s defence and expects the 21-year-old to have a top career in the game.

“It’s down to the lad, but what I would say about him is that he wants to learn and improve, and he asks me questions about how to go about things. It’s a breath of fresh air playing alongside a young lad who wants to better himself, instead of a young lad who thinks he’s made it already. With his attitude and the attributes he’s got, he will go on to bigger and better things, no question.”

Brown’s partnership with Hobbs is a good example of the blend of youth and experience in City’s squad.

“We have got a great balance at the moment. It’s down to us experienced pros to bring the young lads down a peg or two if they get a bit too excited or a bit too carried away with themselves, but it can work both ways as they keep us young.”

With 40-year-old, Chris Powell, on the club’s coaching staff and still turning in the odd first team appearance, Brown sees the former England man’s longevity as something to aspire to.

“Powelly’s an inspiration and there’s not many around like him. He’s a one off and still beats some of the lads at sprints in training! He’s got a great personality. He’s an inspiration to me, now I’m the other side of 30, to play a lot longer.”

After moving from Hull to arguably a bigger club with a richer history, Leicester City seems the ideal match for Wayne Brown at this stage of his career.

“I’m enjoying my football as much as ever. I appreciate just how big a club this is. It’s got a great history and I want to add to that. When I signed from Hull it was a great opportunity for me to play for such a big club.

“Captaining the side this year has been a great honour for me. The ambition is to win more medals and to be successful. I think we’ve got a hell of a chance at Leicester of achieving just that. It’s a great squad that the gaffer’s put together.”

Although the fire still burns inside Brown, who possesses plenty of fight and desire for the game, he has given some consideration to his life after football.

“After this season, I’ve got another year on my contract, so I’m keen to play as many games as I can. The older you get, the more grateful you are for your opportunity when it comes along and you try and make the most of it.

“I’d like to stay in the game in some capacity and pass on some of my experiences to younger pros. Football’s all I’ve ever known since leaving school as a 16-year-old and going to Ipswich Town. I still love the game and I’ve got a few years left in me. I want to go on as long as I can, play as many games as I can and enjoy my football.”

After Brown’s solid performance against local rivals, Nottingham Forest, it won’t just be the City man who’s dreaming of one more crack at the big time.

To see Wayne in action against QPR on Monday April 5th, enter our competition.

Did You Know?
Leicester City is Wayne’s ninth club after previous spells with Ipswich Town, Colchester United, QPR, Wimbledon, Watford, Gillingham, Hull City and Preston.

Whilst at Ipswich Town, Brown scored in the UEFA Cup during the Tractor Boys’ 9-1 aggregate victory over Avenir Beggen.