Vikings sign up Brown on a four-year deal (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Vikings sign up Kevin Brown on a four-year deal

1:37pm Sunday 27th May 2012 in Vikings news

VIKINGS have announced the signing of Huddersfield Giants captain Kevin Brown on a four-year deal for an undisclosed transfer fee.

St Helens born Brown made his Super League debut in 2003 whilst wearing the colours of Wigan Warriors, going on to become a first team regular over the next four seasons. Part way through the 2006 season, he joined Huddersfield Giants, initially on loan, before making the move a permanent one soon after. In 2010, Kevin signed an extension to his Huddersfield contract, keeping him at the Galpharm Stadium until the end of 2015.

Following the completion of the 2012 Stobart Super League season with the Giants, the 27 year-old stand off or loose forward will link up with the Vikings ahead of the 2013 campaign.

Throughout his domestic career, Kevin has proven himself as a consistent performer with exceptional leadership qualities. Internationally, the former England Academy junior was selected by England head coach Steve McNamara for his 2010 Four Nations squad and went on to feature in three test matches during the tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Despite being 15 games into the current Stobart Super League season, Vikings Head Coach Denis Betts admitted recruitment for 2013 is of equal importance; “Moving forward as an organisation, to secure the services of such a quality player as Kevin is a massive coup for the club.

“Given the fact there is a transfer fee involved is another indication of where we are going and what we are trying to do.”

Betts’ relationship with Brown goes back a number of years, having coached him at Academy level at Wigan Warriors, and he’s kept a close eye on his progress ever since; “Kevin has always had the ability and charisma needed to be an outstanding player. From those early days, he’s gone on to play his part in plenty of big games at both club and international level and he will bring a vast wealth of experience and high quality traits with him. As he’s proven in recent seasons, he is also a leader of men and has taken the captain responsibility at Huddersfield with ease,” added Betts.

“We’re trying to create an environment where leadership is taken on by the quality of people within the structure of the team and I’ve no doubt, having him on board can only enhance our ambitions moving forward.

“Kevin is a Lancashire lad with a young family and he believes the time is now right to move back over to this side of the Pennines. He sees the Vikings as the vehicle to help him fulfil even more of his playing ambitions over the next four years and we’re extremely pleased to welcome him to the club, despite a great deal of interest from elsewhere.”

Giants Managing Director, Richard Thewlis paid tribute to club captain Kevin Brown; “Kevin has and continues to be a great player and leader in our group. He has given us wonderful service and I am sure will be wanting to leave us at the end of the year on a high having helped us achieve our goals this season.

“The opportunity that has presented itself is a wonderful one for him and his family and will enable them to return nearer to their families. From our perspective as a club we are satisfied with the level of compensation that we will receive which as you would expect as befits our captain is a club record amount for us. Kevin will leave at the end of October with our very best wishes and thanks.”