Brian Gayle, an experienced defender with Wimbledon, Manchester City, Ipswich Town and Sheffield United, made ten league appearances for Exeter City during a brief stay in the mid-1990s. He later appeared for Rotherham United, Bristol Rovers and Shrewsbury. 

Starting his career with Wimbledon as an apprentice, Brian earned a full contract in October 1984 and featured regularly in the first-team making 83 league appearances before a £325,000 move to Manchester City in July 1988. After 55 league outings he was then on the move to Ipswich Town for £330,000 in January 1990 where he was to add a further 58 league matches to his career tally. Switching next to Sheffield United in September 1991, with a fee of £750,000 changing hands, Brian was to enjoy the most productive spell at Bramall Lane making 118 league appearances over a near-five year stay.  

Given a free transfer at the age of thirty-one, Brian signed for Exeter City in August 1996 and made his debut against Mansfield Town at Field Mill in the opening fixture on 17 August 1996. Playing in the first ten league games of the season, and twice in the League Cup against Barnet, Brian soon left Devon to return to South Yorkshire to accept an offer from Rotherham United in October 1996. His last game for City was against Wigan Athletic on 1 October 1996. 

Only at Rotherham for a few months, Brian was back in the South West when he signed for Bristol Rovers in March 1997 but was only to stay until December 1997 before agreeing terms with Shrewsbury Town. Finishing his 432 game Football League career with the Shrews, Brian later featured for Telford United until the end of 2002/01 campaign.