Extraordinary tale of Morgan Brown . . . the footballer who refused to give up and is now playing in the Europa League after writing to thousands of clubs asking for a last shot

From the roof garden of his apartment building, Morgan Brown enjoys the view of the snow-capped Troodos Mountains and the glittering Mediterranean Sea.

Below, the streets of Limassol bustle in a mild winter climate. It has been home for almost five years and these surroundings, idyllic from the perspective of the frozen depths of a British winter, are just one of the rewards for a young footballer who refused to give up.

Others include a title winner’s medal and a taste of European competition, and a series of photos of him competing with world football stars such as former Real Madrid and Spain star Isco.

Brown is eligible to represent Cyprus this year and suddenly his world is full of exciting possibilities.

“It’s crazy to think how quickly things can change,” says the 24-year-old. ‘If you had told me five years ago that I would be playing in the Europa League, it would have made no sense.

“I went through a lot of trials, a lot of people said no to me, and it’s really hard to bear; not just to be told they don’t want you, but to keep calm, move on to the next one and try again. I always knew I could do it and that kept me from letting go.”

A graduate of Leicester’s academy, Brown came through the ranks of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Calvin Bassey and Luke Thomas before being released at the end of his scholarship.

He signed a one-year contract with Aberdeen but there were no offers when that expired in 2019, so he joined Southern League amateurs Stratford Town and, after breaking away from his agent, started working with a last chance at a professional career.

“No one gave me the advice, I just did it myself,” Brown says. “I downloaded LinkedIn, the job search app, and started sending thousands of messages to all the teams I could find.

‘I reached out to the sporting directors of all the teams in the League of Ireland and sent them messages, with video footage of me playing. I sent a message to all the teams in the top two divisions in Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Poland, wherever.

‘I don’t know if it’s something to be ashamed of. I did it because I really wanted to play football. In such a situation you simply have nothing to lose.’

One team responded. Aris Limassol, then in the Cypriot second division, invited him for a trial, with the flight and accommodation paid for, and he liked what they saw.

In the time since, Aris have been promoted to the top flight, bought by an ambitious Russian owner and moved to the new Alphamega Stadium, which they share with two other Limassol teams, Apollon and AEL.

Former West Brom, Stoke and England Under 21 striker Saido Berahino and Tottenham academy graduate George Marsh both play for AEL. Last year, Aris won the title for the first time in their 93-year history and qualified for the group stages of the Europa League, where they defeated Rangers and picked up a point at Ibrox.

This year they are fighting to defend the title and start the weekend in third place behind 28-time champions APOEL and Anorthosis Famagusta, who they play tonight.

Brown is their indispensable box-to-box central midfielder, famed island-wide for his endurance in temperatures that can reach 40°C (104°F) in summer, and his versatility, playing wide or in the operates on the entire back. He is learning Greek and is under contract until the end of next season.

“I like playing for Aris,” he says. ‘The club accepted me when no one really wanted me and it would take something special to get me away from here.’

He has a dream to one day play in the Premier League, but regardless of whether that comes true, Brown can take pride in a playing career that has flourished thanks to his sheer determination and refusal to give up essential qualities in any team.

At the same time, his achievements are a symbol of hope for dozens more teenage footballers about to be expelled from elite academies at the end of this season.

“It’s difficult, unfortunately, when you’re in a situation like that,” Brown said. ‘Nobody understands how you feel, but my advice would be to keep working hard, never stop believing, never give up and never stop looking for opportunities. Always be prepared because you never know what will happen tomorrow. You may receive a message from a team in Cyprus.’

The Premier League’s improved penalties

The Premier League penalty takers have worked on their technique. Of the 61 penalties awarded in the top flight this season, 55 have been scored, five saved and only Erling Haaland has missed the target and fired wide of Sheffield United. Last season, 77 of the 99 penalties were scored. Eight missed the target.

The demise of Nuneaton is so sobering

Nuneaton Borough have had a turbulent existence, but that hasn’t stopped them becoming one of the most recognizable non-League football clubs, whether as FA Cup giants or developing top players like Trevor Peake , Kirk Stephens and Trevor Morley. or managers such as David Pleat and Graham Carr.

There was a time when they regularly attracted more than 3,000 people to the old Manor Park ground, and once in 1967 when more than 22,000 people turned up for an FA Cup match against Rotherham United.

However, last week Boro resigned from the Southern League as liquidation loomed for the third time in their long history, victims of a dispute between the club’s owners and the stadium’s owners. A sobering reminder of the fragility of our non-League clubs.

Liverpool youngsters hit seven past Arsenal

Arsenal, who beat Crewe seven times in the third round of the FA Youth Cup, were hit seven times by Liverpool in the fourth round.

Lewis Koumas, son of former Tranmere striker Jason, scored three, two of which were for Jayden Danns, son of much-traveled midfielder Neil, who is now assistant manager at Tranmere. Trent Kone-Doherty scored the others for Liverpool in a 7-1 win.

Manchester United’s Under 18s were eliminated by Swindon Town last week.

In memory of the FA Cup classic between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday

Rarely do I get through FA Cup replay week without thinking back to the classic saga between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal in 1979.

Five matches, nine hours of football and sixteen goals spread over sixteen days in January.

It started in the snow, when Arsenal keeper Pat Jennings faced a barrage of snowballs from the Hillsborough Kop as Jack Charlton’s team, then in the Third Division, fought back to draw 1–1.

Liam Brady saved Arsenal three days later with a late equalizer (1-1) at Highbury, before two thrilling draws (2-2 and 3-3) followed at Leicester’s Filbert Street, where the matter was then settled 45 years ago on Monday.

Steve Gatting and Frank Stapleton scored in a 2–0 win and four months later Terry Neill’s team somehow won the FA Cup at Wembley without traveling to the United Arab Emirates before half-time.