Bobby Brown, one of the greatest names from Workington Reds’ Football League history, has died at the age of 87.

Highly regarded, both on and off the field, Bobby played more games for the Reds in their league days than any other player.

In total, he made 419 Football League games (plus a further two as a substitute) as well as turning out in 26 League Cup ties (two of which were quarter-finals), 25 FA Cup ties and a further 24 of a non-competitive nature.

That appearance record stood until three years ago when it was broken by another long-serving Reds defender in their more recent non-league days, Kyle May.

Bobby was skipper of the Workington side which won promotion from the Fourth Division under Ken Furphy in 1963/64.

Born in Motherwell in 1931, he started his senior football career with his hometown club before being signed by manager Norman Low for the Reds in 1956. Over the next 11 years he became Reds’ Mr Reliable, comfortable in both full-back roles and, eventually, as a centre-half.

He played in just two reserve team games before making his Football League debut on 3 September, 1956 helping Reds to a 2-0 win at Hull City.

He was a member of the Reds team who ran Manchester United close in the Third Round of the FA Cup, leading 1-0 at half-time against the champions of England before succumbing to a second-half hat-trick by Dennis Violet.

He was a key performer in the giant killing League Cup runs of 1963-64 and 64-65 and was twice an ever-present in a season.

He had a short spell as player-coach in the mid-60s and turned out for the final time just a few weeks before his 36th birthday in 1967.

Like a number of other Scots who played for Reds in the Football League, Bobby settled in the town and was able to watch his eldest son, Bobby junior, play for the club over five seasons in the Football and Northern Premier leagues.

And for many years he was a regular on the Borough Park terraces accompanying younger son John to all Reds home games.

Bobby, senior, was last at Borough Park a couple of months ago, thanks to the staff of the Workington care home where he resided, but he wasn’t able to attend the Legends Day in May.

Widowed a few years ago, Bobby is survived by sons Robert and John and daughter Betty.

The funeral will be held early next month in Workington.