Former Bristol City striker Marvin Brown has died at the age of 42 after a long battle with terminal cancer.
Brown passed away early Monday, having been moved to end-of-life care at home over the weekend.
He was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the bile duct, after previously battling several medical conditions, including ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare liver disease. In 2022, he was treated for colon cancer.
Bristol City, in a post on X, mourned the loss of their former player, writing:
“We were saddened to hear of the passing of Marvin Brown aged 42.
Marvin joined the Bristol City Academy at the age of eight and went on to become the club’s youngest player, aged just 16 years and 71 days in September 1999.
While at the club, Marvin featured for England Under-16s and Under-17s before moving on to Forest Green Rovers in 2004.”
His brother, Aaron Brown, paid an emotional tribute on Instagram, writing:
“Today I said goodbye to my little brother and my best friend, Marvin.
Your fight is finally over, and while I find some peace knowing you’re no longer in pain, my heart is shattered without you here.
You were everything a brother could ever hope for – kind, calm, ambitious, thoughtful, and always putting others before yourself.”
Marvin Brown began his career at Bristol City, joining their academy at eight and making history in 1999 as the club’s youngest-ever player at 16 years and 71 days.
After leaving the club in 2004, he went on to play for several teams including Forest Green Rovers, Tamworth, Yeovil Town, Weston-super-Mare, Salisbury City, and Truro City before retiring in 2012.
Brown also represented England at the Under-16 and Under-17 levels, earning recognition for his skill and sportsmanship during his youth career.