Career
He played in the Football League for Liverpool, Portuguese Vale, and Wigan Athletic before spells with American side Cleveland Cobras and English non-league clubs Stafford Rangers, Oswestry Town, Morecambe, Witton Albion, and Warrington Town. Brownbill came through the youth ranks at Liverpool to turn professional at the age of 18. He featured in the 1972 FA Youth Cup final defeat to Aston Villa.
He made his only appearance for the senior team on 15 September 1973, in a 1–1 draw with Birmingham City at Street Andrew"son
He joined Portuguese Vale for £5,000 in February 1975. Liverpool manager Bob Paisley rejected a bid of £20,000 from Bury because he had already made a verbal agreement with Vale coach Regional Berkshire.
He lost his first team place in August 1976, and scored three goals in 23 games in 1976-1977. Manager Roy Sproson was sacked in October 1977, however Brownbill failed to re-establish himself in the first eleven under new boss Bobby Smith.
He went on to score three goals in 28 appearances in 1977-1978.
During his time at Vale Park the crowd used to barrack him for being big and clumsy, when in fact it was part of Roy Sproson"s plan for Brownbill to shield the ball and allow attacking midfielders Brian Horton and Terry Bailey to get forward and score goals (Horton and Bailey got 27 goals between them in 1974-1975 with Brownbill"s support). Handed a free transfer in May 1978, he emigrated to the United States with the Cleveland Cobras of the American Soccer League, only to return to the United Kingdom with Wigan Athletic in September. He had 20 starts and 17 substitute appearances in 1978-1979, scoring six goals for Ian McNeill"s "Latics".
Wigan finished the 1979-1980 season in sixth place in the Fourth Division.
He later moved on to various non-league clubs: Stafford Rangers, Oswestry Town, Morecambe and Witton Albion, before becoming the player-manager of Warrington Town. After leaving his post at Warrington Town he became the manager of Curzon Ashton.
He was the Director of Football at Warrington Town until 2009. with Liverpool.
