Having previously featured in the Football League with Torquay United and Tranmere Rovers, Brian Joy played ninety league games for Exeter City after signing from Doncaster Rovers in 1973.  He later played in the United States before finishing his professional career with York City. 

He was an apprentice with Coventry City where he played in the 1967-68 FA Youth Cup Final against Burnley. He was subsequently given his first full professional contract by Blackburn Rovers in August 1968, but had to wait for his league debut until moving to Torquay United in August 1969, where he played 27 games. A year later he had signed for Tranmere Rovers netting his first senior goal in 21 starts. Unfortunately Brian sustained a leg injury in a car crash and it kept him out of action for 18 months. His next move took him to Doncaster Rovers in July 1972, where added a further 34 league outings and one goal.

It was from Doncaster that he moved to Exeter City in July 1973. He made his City debut as a substitute in a 1-0 win at Brentford in September 1973 and was in and out of the side thereafter. However, he really established himself as a regular first team player in 1974-75, missing just one league match, also scoring his first goals for the club, both against Newport County. Although he started off in the side again for the 1975-76 season, he could only add a further 15 league appearances to his tally, and asked to be placed on the transfer list in October 1975.

He then signed for San Diego Jaws in the USA in March 1976. Returning to England in September 1976, he spent one season with York City before returning to play in the USA with Las Vegas Quicksilver, (photos with Pele and Eusebio) and later playing for  Macclesfield Town, San Diego Sockers, Cleveland Cobras and San Francisco Fog in the Major Indoor Soccer League. 

He later went into business in Edinburgh. His son Ian had a trial for City in 1999.