Richard Brush (born 26 November 1984) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Irish side Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Richard Brush
Brush with Sligo Rovers in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1984-11-26) 26 November 1984 (age 39)
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Sligo Rovers
Number 30
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2005 Coventry City 0 (0)
2003–2004Tamworth (loan) 10 (0)
2005 Stafford Rangers ? (0)
2005 Hednesford Town 3 (0)
2005–2006 Shrewsbury Town 0 (0)
2006 Nuneaton Borough ? (0)
2006–2011 Sligo Rovers 115 (0)
2011–2012 Shamrock Rovers 7 (0)
2012–2013 Sligo Rovers 1 (0)
2013–2014 Shamrock Rovers 14 (0)
2014–2016 Sligo Rovers 33 (0)
2016–2017 Finn Harps 19 (0)
2017–2018 Ballinamallard United 50 (0)
2018–2021 Cliftonville 75 (0)
2021– Sligo Rovers 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:42, 29 November 2023 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career (2003–2006)

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Brush started his career with Coventry City where after one year as an apprentice, he signed a three-year professional contract. Whilst at the club went out on loan to Tamworth in November 2003[1] with his loan spell being extended into a second, and then a third month.[2] His time at Coventry included a wrist injury,[3] which led to him missing an entire season. He moved to a month by month contract in June 2005, before parting ways with Coventry at the end of August 2005 when his contract expired.[4]

He joined Shrewsbury Town, where he served as backup to a young Joe Hart.[5] He played for the club's reserves and remained with the club, still without a contract.[6]

In September 2005 he played for Stafford Rangers and in November 2005 he turned out for Hednesford Town making four appearances including making his debut in an FA Cup first round match against Histon.[7][8]

He left Shrewsbury in January 2006.[9] and next joined Nuneaton Borough[10]

Sligo Rovers

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First spell (2006–2011)

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Brush's next move was to League of Ireland club Sligo Rovers where he made his League of Ireland debut against Shelbourne on 28 July 2006. He stayed with the club until 2011.

At Sligo, he broke his wrist.[5]

Second spell (2012–2013)

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Brush returned to Sligo in January 2012.[11]

Third spell (2014–2016)

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Brush signed back for the third time for the 2014 season. These were difficult seasons for Sligo as their golden period was ending, despite a Setanta Cup win in 2014. At the end of the 2015 campaign, Brush departed the club again.

Fourth spell (2021–present)

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On 1 February 2021, Brush signed again for Sligo Rovers.

Shamrock Rovers

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First spell (2011–2012)

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Brush was signed by Shamrock Rovers on 21 July 2011.[12] He made his Rovers debut on 3 September 2011 against Dundalk helping them to a 2–1 victory.[13]

He made two appearances in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League[14] as Rovers became the first Irish side to reach a European competition group stage.

Second spell (2013–2014)

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Brush signed back for The Hoops in December 2012.[15]

Finn Harps (2016–2017)

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In January 2016, Brush started training with newly promoted Finn Harps with a view to signing for the 2016 season. After joining the Ballybofey-based club, he made 19 league appearances.[14]

Ballinamallard United (2017–2018)

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In January 2017, Brush signed for Ballinamallard United[14] on a free transfer taking the shirt number 30. He made his first appearance in the Irish Cup against Warrenpoint Town.

Cliftonville (2018–2021)

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Brush signed for Cliftonville in July 2018,[16] and played his first official match for the side on 4 August 2018 in a 2–1 win against Glentoran at the Oval.

Personal life

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In November 2018, he suffered a stroke while driving.[5][17][18]

Honours

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Sligo Rovers
Shamrock Rovers

References

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  1. ^ "Transfers – November 2003". BBC Sport. 27 November 2003. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Tamworth keep Brush". BBC Sport. 20 January 2004. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  3. ^ "Keeper Brush injures wrist". BBC Sport. 14 July 2004. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Brush released by Sky Blues". Coventry City FC. 31 August 2005. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  5. ^ a b c "Richard Brush: Launching Kane's career, a 'holiday' in Wales and battling back from a stroke". BBC Sport. 21 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Brush leaves". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 25 January 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2012.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Richard Brush profile". Hednesford Town FC. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  8. ^ "Histon 4–0 Hednesford". BBC Sport. 5 November 2005. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  9. ^ "Keeper Brush leaves Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 25 January 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  10. ^ "New Club For Brush". Coventry MAD. 28 January 2006.
  11. ^ "Brush returns to Sligo Rovers". League of Ireland. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  12. ^ "St Johnstone sign keeper Mannus from Shamrock Rovers". BBC Sport. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  13. ^ "Mannus out – Brush in". 21 July 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  14. ^ a b c Dave Donnelly (1 January 2017). "Richard Brush joins Ballinamallard United from Finn Harps". ExtraTime.ie. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  15. ^ "Brush returns". 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  16. ^ "Cliftonville sign former Ballinamallard goalkeeper Richard Brush". BBC Sport. 26 July 2018.
  17. ^ "Cliftonville keeper Richard Brush in hospital having fallen ill on Monday night". BBC Sport. 14 November 2018.
  18. ^ Lauren Harte (15 November 2018). "Cliftonville keeper Brush's health scare". Belfast Telegraph.
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