Brian was born in Prescot on 22 April 1956, an England Youth International he played just three games for Liverpool and fourteen for Wigan, getting on the scoresheet once from his full back position. Brian started out on a football career at a very early age. Dedicated to Liverpool he went on to represent the club at all levels, including schoolboy, junior, youth, reserves and first team. He was also Liverpool Reserves record appearance maker in the Central League and went on to represent the first team in European competitions. He had ten seasons at Anfield and names the backroom staff at the club as his biggest influence in the game. As well as Liverpool and Wigan, Brian also played abroad in both Finland and the USA. He eventually moved into the local Non League soccer scene playing for South Liverpool and became their player manager before he decided he had had enough of the playing and became the manager. After several seasons with South, he secured the manager’s job at Southport, and in just four seasons brought several pieces of silverware back to Haig Avenue. Brian had a difficult job right from the day he joined the club, starting pre-season training with just four players. He had to try players out. and the first season was a transitional one, although Brian was quick to admit that he didn’t want the club’s supporters to wait for success, as they had been patient for long enough. In his second season he secured the League Cup and the Liverpool Senior Cup, putting together a tremendous side – one which saw one of Brian’s finds (the talented Steve Whitehall) move to Rochdale, bringing in a cool £25,000 for the club over the following two seasons. The loss of a few players at the end of that second season meant another rebuilding job for Brian.
An opening day defeat in 1992/93 didn’t worry Brian too much, and he began to realise the full potential of the squad in the early season game at Morecambe. A highly professional performance saw the ‘Port record a comfortable 2-0 win against a side that proved to be one of the closest league challengers throughout the campaign, and Brian’s thoughts turned to the League Championship. We all know the rest, but Brian was always certain that his side could win the title and gain promotion. Brian kept faith with the squad that won the NPL title and saw the club finish fourth in our first season in the Conference going one better in 1994/95 to finish third so it came as a real shock when at the end of the 1994/95 season there came a sudden announcement that Brian Kettle, the manager through almost six very successful campaigns had resigned for personal reasons.