Don Browning, who came from an Ashley, near New Milton farming family, progressed from Hampshire League football to The Dell, initially as an amateur but, after a season, on a professional contract. After a further half-a-season in the Reserves, he made his first-team debut, at right-back, at the end of 1936. He played for the most of that season and started the next, 1937-38 in possession. Come the October, however, he suffered a serious knee injury, from which, despite an operation in the ensuing summer, he never fully recovered. He did make six appearances in the London Combination for the Reserves during 1938-39, but when he was transfer-listed at the conclusion of the season he opted to retire, aged just 23. Being an active farmer he was not permitted to join up, so he joined the Home Guard for the duration of the hostilities.

In 1945, along with his parents, Don bought Hedge End Farm near Blandford Forum and despite the 5,000 acres that kept him busy still found time to be a season ticket holder at The Dell as well as turning out for Stickland, his local village team.