Ali Brownlee, English radio sports broadcaster, Died at 56

  Media

Alastair “Ali” Brownlee was born in 1959, and died on February 14, 2016.

He was a British radio broadcaster.

He was best known for his coverage of Middlesbrough Football Club on BBC Tees from 1982 onwards.

The sports broadcaster long career linked to the club earned him the honorific “Voice of the Boro”.

Brownlee was born on Byelands Street, Middlesbrough, close to the team’s Ayresome Park ground.

Brownlee attended school with comedian Bob Mortimer and began work as a bank manager before embarking on his media career.

Ali reported on over 1,000 matches for the team, and also presented BBC Tees’ breakfast show.

Ali Brownlee and partner Bernie Slaven worked for commercial station Century FM (now Heart North East) from 1995 to 2007, before the rights to Middlesbrough’s matches returned to the BBC.

Ali Brownlee owned the publishing house Linthorpe Publishing, writing and printing works on Middlesbrough F.C. with his friend Gordon Cox, with titles including The Road to Eindhoven and The Class of ’86.

Ali Brownlee was a fundraiser for charities including Sport Relief, Children in Need and the hospice Zoe’s Place.

Ali Brownlee resided in Linthorpe.

His wife was married to Wendy, and they had two daughters, Alison and Emily.

Ali Brownlee was diagnosed with bowel cancer in November 2015, informing his listeners of his condition.

However, he continued his coverage of Boro – then pushing for a return to the Premier League until December.

And, in Middlesbrough’s Football League Cup match against Everton at the Riverside Stadium, the fans put on a light show in solidarity with him, covered live by Sky Sports.

Ali Brownlee fought his disease for three months.

Ali Brownlee passed away at 56 yrs old