David Browne

Around the age of 10, Browne began playing football as a goalkeeper. He began his football career in the Port Moresby suburb of Kaugere at the Living Light Academy. Between 2007 and 2010, he changed schools three times, attending Korobosea International School from 2007 to 2008, St Josephs International School in 2009, and Port Moresby International School in 2010. Browne played for two years for local development team Port Moresby School of Excellence FC of the Port Moresby Soccer Association from 2010 to 2011. POMSOE FC was founded in 2010 and featured mostly players from the Papua New Guinea national under-17 team. He left Papua New Guinea for a football scholarship in New Zealand in 2012.

While participating in Under-17 World Cup qualification, Browne was spotted and offered a scholarship by St Peter's College in Auckland, New Zealand. While playing for the college, he also played for Central United of the Northern League at age 16. Central United accumulated a 10–1–7 record, finishing in 3rd place for the season. Following his one season with the club, he was named the Player of the Year. Browne attended St Peter's College for three years before graduating in 2013. He was St. Peter's top scorer in 2011 and voted a member of the state team. During the 2012 season with Central United, he was then spotted by Auckland City FC of the ASB Premiership because of a partnership between the two clubs.

Auckland City

He was 16 when he signed for Auckland and immediately joined the club's first team. Between 2012 and 2015, Browne scored a total of 10 league goals in 33 league matches. He won the OFC Champions League with the club twice, in 2013 and 2014. He also participated in the 2012, 2013, and 2014 FIFA Club World Cups and earned the surprise bronze medal in 2014 after beating Mexico's Cruz Azul on penalties, in addition to multiple other league and confederation championships and awards. In 2012, he was the youngest player at the FIFA Club World Cup at age 16 and was selected by head coach Ramon Tribulietx after being with the club for only three months. At that time, he was the youngest ever player from Papua New Guinea to take part in the tournament and…

In 2005, Browne represented Papua New Guinea at an under-12 tournament in Fiji. He was teammates on that team with youth squad captain and future senior international Alwin Komolong. He was part of Papua New Guinea's squad for the 2011 OFC U-17 Championship. He appeared in four matches and scored one goal during the tournament. His goal came in 2–1 victory over American Samoa. He hit the crossbar on another shot during the match. Despite moving to New Zealand and attending school and playing football there for several years, he was ineligible for a call-up from New Zealand Football. In November 2015, it was announced that Browne was invited as part of Papua New Guinea's initial 29-man squad for the 2016 OFC Nations Cup, hosted by Papua New Guinea, which also served as qualification for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the second round of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. However, he was not part of the final roster. In January 2017 it was announced that Browne was part of Papua New Guinea's initial 23-man squad for two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Tahiti in March. He arrived at training camp with other overseas-based players a week before the first match and was noted as adding speed and power to the squad. After being named to the final squad, it was expected that he would make his senior international debut during the matches, his first appearances for Papua New Guinea at any age group since 2011 at age 15. About representing Papua New Guinea…

Browne is the son of Bob Browne, an Englishman who moved to Papua New Guinea in 1971 and became the country's most renowned cartoonist by creating Mista Grasruts. Bob Browne died in 2011. His mother, Segana, is a Papua New Guinean from Central Province. Browne has also worked as a building labourer. He also holds a British passport.