Of course this was in a period, immediately after the foundation of the Scottish League and arguments about professionalism and when "amateur" players only were for the moment being chosen. James Campbell of Kilmarnock played against Ireland, John McPherson of Hearts as the pivot in a all Jambos half-back line in defeat against England. James Kelly would not return until 1892 as the new financial realities were recognised, although the result was, in anything worse. In fact it is said that before Andy stepped back from playing in 1896 he was probably deserving of more honours as in the interim six more centre-halves were tried and dispensed with with little noticeable improvement. This was as the club team, of which he was the fulcrum was solidly mid-table or better. In 1893 it even finished third behind only Celtic and Rangers.

On retirement at thirty Andy Brown was made a life-member of his home-town club. At thirty-three he married a lass living locally, Kate Loy. She was from Ayrshire, they married in Glasgow and back in Paisley were to have two children, a girl and boy, Andy going back to working, as he had before football, as a clerk. But sadly he would not make forty. Whether had contracted it earlier or not the Scottish course of tuberculosis was by thirty-nine to take him. He would die still in the town in 1904 to be buried at Woodside Cemetery. Kate would follow just a year later, the children aged seven and five respectively.