1986 All Star Wing Half Back

Templemore based Garda Siochána Colm Browne was without doubt one of the most gifted footballers to ever pull on the blue and white of Laois.

Born in London, he was a stylish wing back who made the breakthrough (alongside his brother Gerry) on to a superb Portlaoise club team in the mid 1970’s. He then played a major role as captain in Laois’s National Football League victory in 1986 and was rewarded with an All-Star award later the same year. He was in the company of such stars as Pat Spillane, Mike Sheehy, Mick Lyons and Charlie Nelligan on that team.

Three years earlier he had been a most impressive player/manager when Portlaoise captured the All-Ireland Club FootballChampionship title.

He subsequently took over the reins from Richie Connor as Laois manager in 1994, spending three years in charge . He then spent a number of years in charge of Tipperary footballers during which time the Premier County showed a marked improvement in their performances.

And in 2001 after Tom Cribben had vacated the Laois position, Colm again returned to manage his native county spending a two year term in the hotseat, leading Laois into Division One in 2002 but calling it a day after the county suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Meath.