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. 

Brian was an apprentice with Coventry City for whom he played in the 1967/68 FA Youth Cup Final against Burnley. Subsequently given his first full professional contract by Blackburn Rovers in August 1968, he didn't make a first-team appearance and moved to Torquay United in August 1969 where he played 27 league games. Joining Tranmere Rovers a year later, he made 21 league starts but also sustained a leg injury in a car crash which kept him out for months ahead of a July 1972 switch to Doncaster Rovers where added a further 34 league outings

Arriving at St James' Park in July 1973, Brian 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 as he made 29 league starts during his first season with the club. Eventually becoming an established first-team player, Brian missed just one league game in 1974/75 when he also scored against Newport County.

Starting the 1975/76 campaign, Brian appeared in the opening eleven league games of the season before requesting a transfer in October 1975. Playing four more times in the league for City, he signed for San Diego Jaws in the USA in March 1976.

Returning to England in September 1976, Brian spent one season with York City before returning to play in the USA with Las Vegas Quicksilver (photos with Pele and Eusebio) ahead of playing for Macclesfield Town, San Diego Sockers, Cleveland Cobras and finally San Francisco Fog in the Major Indoor Soccer League before later going into business in Edinburgh. 

Brian's son Ian had a trial for City in 1999.