Brian Kettle

Brian Kettle (born 22 April 1956 in Prescot) is an English former footballer who played as a left-back.

Brian Kettle
Personal information
Date of birth (1956-04-22) 22 April 1956
Place of birth Prescot, England
Position(s) Left-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1973–80 Liverpool 3 (0)
1978 → Dallas Tornado (loan) 19 (1)
1978–79 → Houston Hurricane (loan)
1980–81 Wigan Athletic 14 (1)
Burscough
Barrow
International career
England Youth
Managerial career
South Liverpool
1989–1995 Southport
1995–1996 Northwich Victoria
Stalybridge Celtic
Rhyl
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kettle began his career with Liverpool, signing professional forms in 1973. He was to remain at Anfield for seven years, but could never rise above reserve level. He was very successful in the reserve team, however, captaining the side for many years, as it won five Central League titles, and three Liverpool Senior Cups. He could never break into the first-team, however, only making four appearances before departing in 1980. He then signed for Wigan Athletic, but was released after one year following a career ending ACL injury after a bad tackle. Having been forced into dropping into non league football with Burscough and Barrow. He later moved into management, taking charge of South Liverpool, Southport, Stalybridge Celtic and Rhyl. In July 2010 Kettle joined A.F.C. Liverpool as assistant reserve team manager.

Managerial career

Southport

After several seasons with South Liverpool, Kettle was appointed manager at Southport, and was instrumental in one of the most successful periods at Haig Avenue. After three seasons the Kettle's team were showing real promise. Cup finals and victories in them soon followed, however league performance ultimately suffered finishing 7th, 5th and 7th again.[1]

The 1992–93 season was one of the most important seasons in the clubs recent history. Southport impressively won the league with 96 points and once again scoring 100 goals and tasted success in two more cup competitions and an excellent FA Cup run took them through to the second round proper for the first time since 1968. After proving the ground was up to scratch the club were duly promoted back to the top flight of non-league football the Vauxhall Conference.[1]

After a promising first season which saw the club finish fourth and only nine points off champions Kidderminster Harries[2] followed by another a Kettle shocked the town with his resignation in March 1995 citing personal reasons with Billy Ayre appointed to oversee and cement the third-place finish.[3]

References
  1. Michael Braham and Geoff Wilde (1995). The Sandgrounders: The Complete League History of Southport F. C. Palatine Books. ISBN 978-1-874181-14-9.
  2. "1993/1994 season summary". Port Online. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  3. "1994/1995 season summary". Port Online. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.