Bristol City have announced that their former player Marvin Brown has died at the age of 42 following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Brown overcame a bout of colon cancer in 2022, but had been receiving end-of-life care treatment for cholangiocarcinoma, an aggressive and rare bile duct cancer, in recent months.
An ex-England Under-17 international, Brown holds the record for being the youngest-ever player to represent Bristol City having debuted for the club in 1999 aged just 16 and 71 days.
The Bristol-born attacker later went on to represent teams such as Cheltenham Town, Yeovil Town, Forest Green Rovers, Weston-super-Mare and Chippenham Town across a playing career spanning over 13 years.
A GoFundMe page set up to support Brown’s wife, Alexis, and two young daughters has raised £64,000 towards its intended £75,000 target at the time or writing.
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‘We were saddened to hear of the passing of Marvin Brown,’ Championship outfit Bristol City wrote in an official statement this evening.
‘Our sincere thoughts and condolences go to his family and friends.
‘Due to having previously overcome many other health struggles, including a bout of colon cancer in 2022, Marvin was unable to secure life insurance and a fundraiser which has been set up for his wife, Alexis, and two young daughters already, reaching more than £63,000 in donations.’
Brown, who worked as the joint-manager of Corsham Town following his retirement from the game, had also been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and was living with a rare liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).
As part of his treatment, the former striker – who was based in Calne, Witlshire – was given a stoma bag.
Brown’s older brother, Aaron, also came through the academy ranks at Bristol City and went on to play for the likes of Exeter City, Queens Park Rangers and Swindon Town.
‘This year, he started to feel quite unwell and was very tired,’ Georgie Bowden, the organiser of the fundraising page, told the BBC earlier this month.
‘In August he was diagnosed with bile duct cancer, which is very rare.
‘The family are completely heartbroken. Alexis and Marv have been together since they were 16, they are real soulmates. You don’t find love like the love they have.’
A charity match has also been planned for November 9, aimed at further raising funds to help support Brown’s loved ones.
It will see the Marvin Brown XI will take on a Bristol City XI at Twerton Park, the home of Bath City.
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