Matt Healey continues the series.
Simon Brain was born in Evesham on the 31st March 1966. He started his career in the lower levels of non league football playing for Malvern and Moreton. He was then signed by Evesham, and then moved to Cheltenham Town for £4,000.
At Whaddon Road he played alongside the former Everton and Aston Villa striker Andy Gray, and after continuing his goalscoring form was signed by Colin Addison at Hereford United in late 1990 for a fee of £10,000.
Simon gave up as his job as a toolmaker to become a full time professional footballer “I thought I was fit until I came to Edgar Street” He made his full debut on the 28th December 1990 coming on as a sub in a 3-1 loss at Doncaster Rovers.
February 1991 – Player of the month (c) MH Archive
He then broke into the starting line up and scored his first Hereford goal in a 2-1 loss at Gillingham on the 2nd February 1991.
The goals continued and he had scored 8 by the end of the season. This included the 1st in a 2-0 win over Cardiff City.
Hereford United V Halifax Town – April 1991 (c) MH Archive
John Sillett then came in as manager and Brain had his best season at Edgar Street and finished as the top scorer. In glorious sunshine Hereford defeated Wrexham 1-0 on the 17th August 1991 at the Racecourse in the opening game of the season. Brain scored the only goal early in the 1st half.
Wrexham v Hereford United – August 1991
Hereford were top of the league by mid September 1991, but sadly fell away and the season was a disappointing one. They did have great success in the FA Cup. Atherstone and Aylesbury were dispatched in the first two rounds, and it took a couple of attempts to defeat Woking in the 3rd. In extra time Brain’s winner gave Hereford a 2-1 win over Woking, which meant a trip to Nottingham Forest in the 4th round.
Brain nearly missed the 4th round tie, the week before against Blackpool he needed stitches in his head after a clash with an opposition player. Hereford sadly went down 2-0 with goals from England Internationals Stuart Pearce and Teddy Sheringham.
Hereford finished the season in 17th position. Jon Narbett had been the top scorer the season before and he remembers Brain fondly “He slotted into the team from non league seamlessly”
Peter Heritage and Brain had though gelled as a striking partnership, and between them scored around 30 league and cup goals. It was the perfect big man little man partnership, but Heritage left the club, and ended up joining Doncaster Rovers.
Heritage told us “Brainy was a natural goalscorer, he worked hard for the team, we both knew each others thoughts when playing up front, he was a great character to have in the dressing room as well”
Greg Downs was the new Hereford manager, and Owen Pickard was bought in from Plymouth to be Brain’s strike partner.
Brain struggled for goals during the 1992/1993 season, by early February 1993 he had only scored two.
Due to Hereford not having a reserve side, and picking up an injury. Brain was loaned to GM Vauxhall Conference side Bromsgrove Rovers to gain some first team experience. He scored an early goal on his debut against Staybridge, but later that game a crunching tackle ended up with him having a broken leg.
“I never had a really serious injury before, the pain was excruciating. It was a clean break, but I spent 12 weeks in plaster”
Brain then spent nearly eight months on the injury list, but returned late September 1993 coming on as a sub against Premier League Wimbledon in the League Cup at Selhurst Park.
Simon Brain – August 1993 (c) Simon Brain
Brain was then back in the 1st team, and forming a partnership with Chris Pike, but tragedy struck on the 27th October 1993 during a Welsh Cup match with Mostyn that Brain broke his leg again.
Greg Downs said at the time “It was a huge blow for Simon, he fought back so well from the 1st break, and he was a lad with such a good spirit”
Brain then sadly wasn’t able to recover and left the club at the end of the season, he went full circle playing non league again for the likes of Evesham and Malvern.
You can watch many of his Hereford goals below.
Brain is now living in his hometown of Evesham and has been a postman since 1998, he still plays regular football for a number of local teams, and is an active member of the Hereford United Facebook group.
Simon Brain and his wife Sheryl – October 2020
*Simon Brain quotes from Hereford United programmes of the 1990’s
