Stefan is a highly regarded centre-forward with extensive experience having plied his trade at the very top of non-league.
Whilst playing for AFC Totton during the 2011/12 Season, Stefan found himself etched into FA Cup history. The 2011/12 Season had seen The Stags reach the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history and were drawn against Bradford Park Avenue. During this fixture Stefan was introduced from the bench after 56 minutes against Bradford Park Avenue.
Having scored a hat-trick in fifteen minutes it was later confirmed as the fastest ever FA Cup hat-trick by a substitute. The final score of 8-1, also saw AFC Tooton become the first non-league team since the Second World War to score eight goals in the proper rounds of the tournament, earning their place in the FA Cup Second Round Proper for the first time.
If that wasn’t a new-found fame for Brown, his quick-fire treble earned him 38 per cent of the public vote ahead of the likes of Jamie Vardy & Nahki Wells and scooped the Budweiser Player of the Round award for the FA Cup First Round Proper.
Stefan is probably best known for his time at Hungerford Town or Basingstoke Town.
Whilst lining out for the Crusaders, he helped them earn promotion to the National League South at the end of the 2015/16 Season.
During the Play-Off Semi Final, the West Berkshire side were trailing by two goals to Hitchin. A subsequent comeback was launched, and the winning goal came courtesy of Stefan in the 84th minute, earning them a place in the Play-Off Final, which they went on to win with Stefan Brown scoring in the final to help them on their way to a 2-1 win against Leamington.
More recently, whilst in his second spell with our friends at ‘Stoke, Brown was an influential member of their historic 2022/23 season which saw them secure the treble for the first time in their rich history having won the Isthmian League South Central Division, the North Hampshire Cup and the Hampshire Senior Cup where on a memorable night at Fratton Park they beat the Development Side of Premier League.
Following Marlow’s historic promotion to Step 3 at the end of the 2023/24 Season, Brown swapped RG21 for SL7 to support the Blues. His arrival in Buckinghamshire would also see him link back up with former teammate, Dave Tarpey.
Stefan played alongside Tarpey at Maidenhead United during the 2014/15 season, joining from Hungerford before returning to West Berkshire the following season.
Unfortunately, their newly rekindled bromance was short-lived as Dave Tarpey announced his retirement during the 2024/25 season, having ruptured his ACL in Marlow’s FA Trophy clash against Biggleswade Town calling an end to a remarkable career.
With Tarps highly respected within the local non-league scene, it wasn’t long before First Team Gaffer, Simon Johnson was on the phone offering him a route into management and in November, Tarps was appointed as our dedicated Forward Coach.
At the end of 2024/25 season, Johnson promoted him to First Team Assistant Manager, alongside Michael Butcher, making a statement of intention ahead of the new campaign.
The Brown and Tarpey bromance will therefore once again be re-kindled.
As well as playing for AFC Totton, Basingstoke, Hungerford Town, Maidenhead United and Marlow, Stefan has also spent time with Oxford City and Leatherhead.
We are so excited to have a player of Stefan’s experience and Calibre in blue & white next season.
We spoke to First Team Manager, Simon Johnson and here’s what he had to say about our star-signing:
“Another local lad coming to play his football with us. Stefan is an excellent addition to the squad and is a proven goalscorer across multiple non-league levels.
To have a players of Stef’s quality and pedigree in our group is brilliant and I am really looking forward to working with him. He will bring not only quality but a whole lot of experience to help progress the squad as a whole. Welcome Stefan.”
We also got the thoughts of Assistant Manager, Dave Tarpey and here’s what he had to say about linking back up with his former team-mate:
