Players - Brian Kettle

Brian Kettle
Birthdate: 22 April 1956
Birthplace: Prescot, Lancashire, England
Other clubs: Dallas Tornado (loan 1978), Wigan Athletic (1980-81), Burscough (1981-82), Runcorn (1982-85), Barrow (1985-86), South Liverpool (1986-87)
Signed from: Local
Signed for LFC: Joined 1972 - Professional May 1973
Liverpool debut: 04.11.1975
Last appearance: 22.01.1977
Contract expiry: 05.09.1980
Win ratio: 25% W:1 D:2 L:1
Games/assists ratio: 4
League games / goals / assists: 3 / 0 / 0
Total games / goals / assists: 4 / 0 / 1

Player Profile

A left-back who was captain of Liverpool's reserve team for three years, winning the Central league on seven occasions. Kettle was never able to push Alec Lindsay, Joey Jones or Alan Kennedy out of the first team and only made four appearances. He was sold to Wigan where he played 14 games before going into non-league football. Kettle did confront Paisley over his lack of first-team opportunities in 1977 as he told the official Liverpool site: "When I was 21 years of age I went into the office to see Mr. Paisley. I'd played a couple of games but Joey Jones was still above me in the pecking order and I wanted to know if I had a future at the club. As I made my way along the corridor to his office I was running through what I was going to say in mind and felt really sure of myself as I knocked on the door. But as I went in, arms behind my back like a little school-kid all my best laid plans went to pot. 'Excuse me boss,' I said. 'Yes son.' 'What's my future?' 'Your future? You're only 21! Who do you think I am – Patrick flaming Moore!' 'Oh, erm, okay,' I said sheepishly, turned round and walked out! That was that!"
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 3 0 0 1 0 4
1974-1975 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975-1976 1 0 0 1 0 2
1976-1977 2 0 0 0 0 2
1977-1978 0 0 0 0 0 0
1978-1979 0 0 0 0 0 0
1979-1980 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
1 90 Norwich City
1 90 WBA
1 90 Arsenal
1 88 Real Sociedad
Total Started/substitutions
4 Started
15 On the bench
0 Substitute
1 Substituted
Total Venue
3 Home
1 Away
Total Competition
3 League
1 UEFA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
4 1 2 1 25% Bob Paisley
Assists per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 0 0 0 1 0 1
1974-1975 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975-1976 0 0 0 1 0 1
1976-1977 0 0 0 0 0 0
1977-1978 0 0 0 0 0 0
1978-1979 0 0 0 0 0 0
1979-1980 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's assists
Total Opponent
1 Real Sociedad
Total Competition
1 UEFA Cup
Total For player
1 John Toshack
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 04.11.1975 Real Sociedad Anfield Europe
Related Quotes

"In the mid to late seventies I was nearly always away with the first team but almost always as the 13th man. The club would stay at a local hotel the night before a game back then and although only one sub was permitted in them days they'd always take an extra man in case a player fell ill or something at the last minute. Don't get me wrong, I'm not decrying the situation I found myself in, I loved it, but travelling everywhere with the team and never playing did disillusion me towards my latter days at the club.

Did you ever confront the boss over this?

When I was 21 years of age I went into the office to see Mr Paisley. I'd played a couple of games but Joey Jones was still above me in the pecking order and I wanted to know if I had a future at the club. I'd been thinking about it for days and this day I finally plucked up the courage to confront the boss. As I made my way along the corridor to his office I was running through what I was going to say in mind and felt really sure of myself as knocked on the door. But as I went in, arms behind my back like a little school-kid all my best laid plans went to pot.

'Excuse me boss,' I said.
'Yes son.'
'What's my future?'
'You're future? You're only 21! Who do you think I am – Patrick flaming Moore!'
'Oh, erm, okay,' I said sheepishly, turned round and walked out! That was that."

Brian Kettle in an interview with liverpoolfc.tv in November 2006

Scrapbook
Beyond the fringe - LFC Official Matchday Magazine interview 2000/01
Beyond the fringe - LFC Official Matchday Magazine interview 2000/01
Kettle hoping for a reserve title hat-trick
Kettle hoping for a reserve title hat-trick
Majestic Mark proves a real showstopper - 11 February 1984
Majestic Mark proves a real showstopper - 11 February 1984
Reserves are a real champion bunch - 5 May 1976
Reserves are a real champion bunch - 5 May 1976
Young Reds revel in their Spanish outing - 4 November 1975
Young Reds revel in their Spanish outing - 4 November 1975
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Dallas Tornado 1978 NASL 19 1 19 1
Wigan Athletic 1980-1981 England Fourth Division 14 1 14 1
Burscough 1981-1982 North West Counties League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Runcorn 1982-1985 Alliance Premier League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Barrow 1985-1986 Alliance Premier League 13 1 19 1
South Liverpool 1986-1987 Northern Premier League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total 46 3 52 3