David Brown CBE

Our Club President and former chairman DAVID BROWN was honoured in 2008 by being made a Life Member of Sale Harriers Manchester. This exceptional tribute follows many previous commendations whilst he worked as one of GMP’s most successful detectives and culminated in being awarded the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) by the Queen before his retirement as Head of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit.

David’s involvement with Sale Harriers Manchester began with the younger athletes of the Primary Section. Being a Level 3 Coach and lead coach for the Yellow Group at Crossford Bridge, he has for years been developing the athletic potential of our youngest hopefuls. During those years he has also been heavily involved in the Annual Awards night for the Primary Section and it was he who had the insight to hold an annual Open Meeting at Sportcity in order that Crossford Bridge’s young athletes could ‘try their hand’ utilising a top quality facility. He has been very involved in the Club’s Executive Committee for many years most recently being elected its President and has used his immense experience to keep the club up to date with current athletic issues and he further took on the task of updating the Club’s Constitution.

Using his vast experience as a policeman, David pioneered the Club’s Criminal Record Bureau checks for all adults involved with younger club members and so successful was this pilot that the model was rolled out nationally and led to David being appointed by UK Athletics as the lead Officer for CRB checks for all coaches and officials in the country. When the Crossford Bridge Management Group was formed some years ago, David’s role in the group involved managing the whole site incorporating the football pitches, together with the athletic facility. He did this with distinction despite the great challenges he encountered and always with SHM at heart. David is particularly renowned as an Official Race Starter. This began firstly at local meetings at Crossford Bridge and led to him officiating at International events that incorporated duties such as Technical Director and Meeting Manager. He is as available for local club T & F, road and cross-country events as being a Chief Starter at major domestic and international events.

David’s contribution to Sale Harriers Manchester is outstanding and the club congratulates him on being made a Life Member