GOALKEEPER Jonathan Brown says he has loved every minute at Bromsgrove Sporting after helping them secure the Midland League Division One title at the weekend.
After joining on loan from National League North side Kidderminster Harriers in January and making his debut in a 2-1 victory at title rivals AFC Hinckley, the 20-year-old has been an ever-present force in the Sporting squad.
In 14 league appearances the former Telford United shot-stopper has kept nine clean sheets with his last coming in a 2-0 victory over Studley on Saturday which secured the Rouslers’ first-ever league crown.
And after playing a special part in the FA Vase run which saw Paul Smith’s men narrowly lose in the semi-finals to Cleethorpes Town, Brown told the Standard money ‘could not buy’ the experience he has had throughout his three months at the Victoria Ground.
“To come on loan to a team with a good group of lads who don’t know when they are are beat and give everything for 90 minutes you cannot ask for anything better,” he said.
“I came here to get games and I will remember all the lads forever because they are all funny and have achieved something really special.
“There’s the platform here to play in front of 1,000 fans almost every week so there’s not much else you can ask for and I have loved every minute of it.
“Money cannot buy this kind of experience at all and at the end of the day Bromsgrove is a special club and I’d love to do it all again.”
Sporting secured the league title with ease on Saturday as goals from Robbie Bunn and leading scorer Jason Cowley ensured Smith’s side were crowned champions with five games to spare.
Victory though did not matter as title rivals Leicester Road and AFC Hinckley suffered 2-1 defeats to Pershore Town and Chelmsley Town respectively.
But Brown said securing promotion with a victory was the main aim.
“It was a strange game because we huffed and puffed and looked like we were not going to score,” he added.
“But Robbie has stepped up and bent one into the top corner so I thought here we go.
“Then we had the two long delays so it was a case of pushing through and even though we knew the other two [Road and Hinckley] had lost we wanted to win the league with three points.
“You don’t want to rely on other results and when Jason’s goal went in everyone just lost it.
“It is a memory everyone will have for the rest of their lives.”
With Brown now returning to parent club Harriers, the experienced Neil Leech is expected to be between the sticks for the rest of the season as first choice keeper Chris Jay remains sidelined with a torn groin.
Sporting were due to play Pershore this afternoon (3pm KO).
