Brown agrees terms with FK Skopje

NEW RAIDERS’ centre back Richard Brown has officially agreed terms with Macedonian First League outfit FK Skopje, marking a historic achievement for the St Catherine Division One Club, which survived last-day jitters to secure its first-ever professional overseas contract for a player.

Brown and the management of McKay New Raiders were on tenterhooks after the 25-year-old completed a 15-day trial with FJ Skopje but was left pondering his fate, awaiting a delayed FedEx package sent from Jamaica on August 26.

Anxious to secure Brown’s signature, newly promoted FJ Skopje offered the former Cavalier, Tivoli Gardens, Dunbeholden, Racing and St Catherine Police Premier League player a temporary contract for him to join the North Macedonian side in January when the transfer window reopens.

“While I am still perturbed that it took so long for the documents to reach Macedonia, I am extremely happy that he will be finally be able to showcase his talent overseas,” said Jason McKay, owner of McKay Security Football Group, which includes other teams such as Meadhaven, who play in the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association Championship.

“FJ Skopje are eager to have him on the field and were so impressed with his trial that they have decided he is worth the wait until January. They could have chosen to go with hundreds of other players readily available, but liked what they saw,” McKay added.

FK Skopje, who won promotion to the First League on June 1, after finishing as runners-up in the Second League, are bolstering their squad for a third stint in nine years among North Macedonia’s top-tier teams.

Brown’s journey to North Macedonia follows those of fellow Jamaicans Renaldo Cephas, Revaldo Mitchell and Cristojaye Daley.

Reggae Boy Cephas, a former Arnett Gardens winger, starred for FC Shkupi, scoring 11 goals in 29 league games during the 2022–23 season before securing a high-profile transfer to Turkish club MKE Ankaragücü.

McKay said Brown is on his way back to Jamaica, where he will resume training with his local club.

“He was put on a strength-training programme for all of July and is really in great physical condition, but there is always room for improvement. Having inked our first overseas contract, McKay New Raiders aim to churn out many Richard Browns,” McKay declared.