CAREER RECORD WITH SWINDON: Meetings: 156 (85 League; 20 National Trophy; 3 Knock-Out Cup; 9 Britannia Shield; 2 Midland Cup; 4 Easter Cup; 6 Central Challenge Shield; 25 Challenge; 1 Four-Team Tournament; 1 Three-Team Tournament Rides: 568 Points: 731 Bonus: 83 Total: 814 Average: 5.73 Maximums: 5 (3 full and 2 paid)
CLUB DEBUT: 23 June 1960 versus Oxford (Away) Challenge; 3 points (2 rides).
BRIAN CHRISTOPHER BRETT had previously made limited National League appearances for Southampton between 1958 and the early part of 1960, when he was signed by then Robins' boss Bert Hearse. Following a run of second-half outings, the opportunity to ride in the Swindon team eventually arrived in a challenge match at Oxford on 23 June, when he scored 3 points and helped the side to a 47-43 success.
He had to wait until 14 July before breaking into the league team - also in a match at Oxford - but he was a regular thereafter, appearing in eleven matches and achieving a 2.45 average. One performance that was particularly eye-catching in that debut season for the Robins occurred at Ipswich on 15 September, when he tallied a brilliant paid 8 points.
Riding from a reserve berth, Brett was included from the start in 1961, and when Oxford provided the opposition in a home league encounter on 29 April he was really flying. Victory was his in two heats on the way to 7+1 points, thereby representing his best home performance to that juncture. The Essex boy continued to tick all the right boxes, ending the year with 68 points and a league average of 4.93 to his name.
The 1962 campaign saw the introduction of handicapped racing and, aside from the odd match in the reserve berth, Brian spent much of his time in the main body of the Swindon side, meaning he had to start his races from 10 yards back.
One early league match saw the Robins entertain Ipswich on 5 May and, although he rode from the No. 6 position - which wasn't a reserve slot in those days - he was indicated as the supplementary reserve so was able to start his heats from scratch. He took advantage of the situation, too, firstly following his great friend Mike Broadbank home in his opening race, before reeling off three straight wins to complete a terrific paid maximum.
However, with Ipswich subsequently closing in mid-season due to falling crowd levels, Brett's success and the Robins' 57-21 victory was struck from the records. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to repeat that showing, the nearest he got being a sparkling display at Coventry on 14 July, when he knocked-up a paid 12 points from five rides.
Still, his consistency improved greatly and by the end of the campaign he had recorded 113 league points for an average of 5.42. The year also saw him ‘double-up' with Wolverhampton in the Provincial League, scoring an impressive total of 16 points from just two matches.
In 1963, Brian moved another step towards the role of a heat-leader at Swindon and he was also finally credited with a full maximum, albeit in a challenge match. That came when the side travelled down to Exeter to face a Provincial League Select on 12 August. The Robins had little difficulty in collecting a 51-27 victory, with Brett being the only unbeaten member of the side as he breezed to a 12-point full-house.
Following that up, he then starred in a 53-25 success over Coventry in a league encounter at Blunsdon on 7 September, netting 10+2 points from four starts. Although his end-of-term points total had slipped to 106, these were gained from considerably less rides, so his league average continued in an upwardly mobile direction to 6.44.
The 1964 season was to signal the end of the old National League and Brian had an enjoyable year, providing great support to the Robins' top duo of Barry Briggs and Mike Broadbank. Along the way, a truly memorable night occurred at the Abbey Stadium on 13 June, when Norwich provided the opposition in a league fixture. Brett scorched to 11 points, defeating the mighty Ove Fundin, not just once, but on two occasions. On top of that, his first victory over the legendary Swede was clocked at a track record time of 71.6 seconds.
At the end of his most successful year with the Robins, his league average had risen to 7.14, with everyone looking forward to more of the same in the new British League. Sure enough, he was named in Swindon's original line-up, whilst Mike Broadbank was allocated to Oxford. However, Brian then announced his retirement to concentrate on business interests, so ‘Broady' remained on board at Blunsdon after all.
Shortly after the season had begun, though, Brett made a quick return to the track with Newcastle, and he enjoyed a marvellous term with the Diamonds, scoring 271 points in the league for an 8.81 average. Staying with Newcastle in 1966, his season was hampered by injury, resulting in an average drop to 7.61.
He sought a change of home track in 1967, and eventually began the campaign mid-way through with Cradley Heath. Despite starting late, he did well to finish second in the Heathens' league averages on a 7.40 figure, prior to deciding to retire for good at the relatively young age of 29.
Many years had gone by since Brian last visited Swindon, but it was wonderful that he could be at the Abbey Stadium as one of the special guests in the Legends' Lounge for the Mike Broadbank Benefit meeting on 28 September 2006. Regrettably, though, a little over six weeks later in November, Brian passed away following a heart attack. He was 68-years-of-age.
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DATE OF BIRTH: 3 April 1938, Stanstead Abbots, Essex.
However, with Ipswich subsequently closing in mid-season due to falling crowd levels, Brett's success and the Robins' 57-21 victory was struck from the records. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to repeat that showing, the nearest he got being a sparkling display at Coventry on 14 July, when he knocked-up a paid 12 points from five rides.
