LEGENDARY FORMER Dundee, Tottenham and Scotland goalkeeper Bill Brown has died at his home in Canada after a lengthy illness.

Widely regarded as one of Scotland’s finest keepers, Brown was born in Arbroath in 1931 and attended school in the town.

He signed for Dundee in 1949 after impressing for junior side Carnoustie Panmure and played at Hampden when Dundee beat Rangers 3-2 to win their first League Cup during the 1951-52 season.

His time at Dundee was interrupted by a two-year period of national service at RAF Leuchars yet he still managed to notch up 215 league appearances for the Dens Park side.

Over the next few years Brown went on to establish himself as Scotland’s number one and represented his country in the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden before going on to win 28 caps.

With his reputation growing the big English clubs were starting to express an interest and legendary Spurs manager Bill Nicholson, who himself died in October, whisked Brown off to White Hart Lane for £15,000 in 1959, then a massive amount to pay for a goalkeeper.

He played in the North London club’s most successful side, winning the league and cup double and becoming the first British team to win the European Cup- Winners’ Cup.

After leaving Spurs he spent a spell with Northampton before moving to Ontario with wife Elaine and their three children, Michael, Roslynn and Beverley.

After moving to Canada he worked as a property developer for many years.

A spokesman for Brown’s first senior club paid tribute to him, saying he was a true Dundee great who would be sorely missed by everyone at Dens Park.

“Dundee can boast having many top-class keepers over the years but few would argue that Bill Brown was the best of the lot.

“He was a legend, not just at Dens Park but also at White Hart Lane and as a Scottish internationalist.

“Although Bill left Dens for bigger things he was fondly remembered by the Dundee faithful and he will be sorely missed by all of us at Dens and by fans of Scottish football in general.

“Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”