 Exactly a year later, Brown made her first home start in England's 1–0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Germany at The Den.In October 2000, when Cope was struck down with a stomach complaint on the morning of England's Women’s Euro 2001 qualification play–off in Ukraine, Brown took her place in England's 2–1 win.By the time of a May 2001 friendly against Scotland at Bolton's Reebok Stadium, Brown had 11 senior appearances and was Cope's regular understudy.