Christopher Alan Brown (born 11 December 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. Career Sunderland Born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Brown was a prolific goalscorer at school and youth level. Brown rose through the youth ranks at the team he supported as a boy, Sunderland, making his debut for the under-19 team at the age of just 15. However, Brown suffered a setback in 2002 when he damaged his cruciate ligament whilst playing for the reserve side, forcing him to miss the entire 2002–03 season. During this season Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League. After making a successful recovery, Brown was promoted to the Sunderland first team, and was allocated the number 31 shirt for the club's first season back in the First Division. During the season, Brown was loaned to Doncaster Rovers, where he made 22 appearances during his seven-month stay, scoring 10 goals. Brown ended the season with a Third Division medal. Brown was handed the number 20 squad number at Sunderland for the 2004–05 season, with many tipping Brown to break through into the first team that season as the club bounced back from a play-off defeat to Crystal Palace the year below. Brown was named as an unused substitute for the trip to Plymouth on 21 August and officially Brown made his debut for Sunderland on 21 September, scoring twice in the 3–3 draw with Crewe Alexandra in the League Cup. Although Sunderland lost the game on penalties, Brown impressed enough to retain his place for the trip to Leeds United four days later, with the game resulting in a 1–0 victory for Sunderland. Brown featured throughout the season for Sunderland, making 14 starts and 23 substitute appearances, scoring 7 goals. Although mainly being used as a substitute during the first half of the season, Brown enjoyed an extended run in the side towards the end of the campaign, as Sunderland clinched the newly renamed Championship title and won promotion. At the end of the season, Brown was beaten by teammate Stephen Elliott for the club's "young player of the year" award. Brown featured for Sunderland during the pre-season tour of US and Canada, though was told by manager Mick McCarthy that he needed to gain further first team experience on loan at another club. Brown made a second-half substitute appearance against Liverpool at Anfield on 20 August and later