Former Bristol City forward Brown dies aged 42

Sarah Turnnidge, Bristol, and Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
Published: October 28, 2025, 08:26 GMT.
Updated one hour ago.
Marvin Brown, former Bristol City forward, died of cancer at the age of 42.

Brown made his Championship debut in September 1999 at the age of 16 years and 71 days, making him the club’s youngest player ever.

He was picked for England’s Under-16 and Under-17 teams and appeared 26 times for the Robins in all competitions before joining Forest Green Rovers in the summer of 2004.

He went on to play for Tamworth, Yeovil Town, and Salisbury, as well as act as a junior coach in his hometown of Bristol, where he founded Total Pro Soccer, a development centre for young boys.

He died on Monday, just over a week after returning to his home in Calne, Wiltshire, where he was receiving end-of-life treatment for cholangiocarcinoma, a rare bile duct cancer.

‘One of Life’s Good Guys’

He became joint manager of Corsham Town FC in the summer of 2024, and the club praised Brown as a “instant favourite” among supporters and staff, winning 10 games in a row after entering at a “very difficult time” for the team.

“[He] would always stay behind after the game to chat about life and football even towards the end of his time with the club when he was ill,” they explained.

“He will be sorely missed and we send our thoughts and condolences to his young family at this time.”

Brown was unable to obtain life insurance due to a history of major health issues, including a diagnosis of colon cancer in 2022.

A fundraiser for his wife Alexis and two daughters generated almost £63,000 in donations.

A Marvin Brown XI will face a Bristol City XI in a charity match on November 9 at Bath City’s Twerton Park to raise funds.

One of those engaged is Brown’s old Bristol City teammate Joe Burnell.

“I’ll remember him as this really happy, funny, bright, caring, kind lad,” he said on BBC Radio Bristol.

“[He was] a product of the academy, and many of the youngsters who’ve come through are always very grounded, and he was absolutely one of them.

“He was just such a nice, infectious, smiley character, one of life’s good guys.”