Brian Dutton

Born in Malton, North Yorkshire, Dutton played for his local team Brooklyn as a child, and was invited to join the Scarborough School of Excellence. He also had a trial with Swindon Town. He joined his first senior side, Pickering Town, at the age of 16.{{cite web

|title=Player Interviews 2005–2006

|url=http://www.theterras.co.uk/website/player-interviews/2005-2006/dutton%20brian.htm

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051212162736/http://theterras.co.uk/website/player-interviews/2005-2006/dutton%20brian.htm

|url-status=dead

|archivedate=12 December 2005

|publisher=Weymouth F.C.

|accessdate=14 July 2007

}} He originally played as a striker but was also capable of dropping back into midfield.{{cite news

| title = Pikes' striker signs for Cambridge

| url = http://archive.gazetteherald.co.uk/2003/11/26/12074.html

| newspaper = Gazette and Herald

| date= 26 November 2003

| accessdate = 22 July 2007}}

He had just broken into Pickering's first team when he was spotted by a Cambridge United scout and was invited for a trial in November 2003. He only played for 30 minutes but was offered a contract on the spot. Here he settled into a midfield role.

Dutton was released by Cambridge and returned to Pickering Town for the start of the 2004–05 season.{{cite news

|title=Pickering optimistic ahead of new season

|url=http://www.confguide.com/newsArticle.do?id=6797

|newspaper=Gazette and Herald

|date=18 August 2004

|accessdate=22 July 2007

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806073538/http://www.confguide.com/newsArticle.do?id=6797

|archivedate=6 August 2007

|url-status=dead

}}

Brian Dutton was invited to go on trial with Weymouth manager Steve Johnson signing Dutton, who had decided he wanted to return to the game.{{cite news

| title = Three new faces & a new Ltd company

| url = http://archive.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/2006/5/22/101789.html

| newspaper = Dorset Echo

| date = 22 May 2006

| accessdate = 21 July 2007}} He then had his contract extended for another year during which he scored the winning goal in the local derby with Dorchester Town.{{cite news

| title = Clear-out

| url = http://archive.dorsetecho.co.uk/2005/5/6/56029.html

| newspaper = Dorset Echo

| date =6 May 2006

| accessdate = 21 July 2007}}{{cite news

| title = Dutton delight

| url = http://archive.dorsetecho.co.uk/2005/12/27/113156.html

| newspaper = Dorset Echo

| date = 27 December 2006

| accessdate = 21 July 2007}} Dutton was offered a new contract by the club at the end of the 2005–06 season but turned it down and was released.{{cite news

| title = Weymouth boss releases 10 players

| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4757897.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 10 May 2006

| accessdate = 14 July 2007}}

Dutton started the 2006–07 with Eastleigh but an injury kept out of the game for three months.{{cite web

| title = Brian Dutton

| url = http://www.theterras.co.uk/website/pen%20pics/2006-2007/dutton%20brian.htm

| publisher = Weymouth F.C.

| accessdate = 14 July 2007}}{{cite news

| title = Brian Dutton

| url = http://archive.dorsetecho.co.uk/2007/2/9/122963.html

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20070625095727/http://archive.dorsetecho.co.uk/2007/2/9/122963.html

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 25 June 2007

| newspaper = Dorset Echo

| date = 7 February 2007

| accessdate = 21 July 2007

}}

Dutton rejoined Weymouth in January 2007. He left at the end of the 2006–07 season and went on trial with York City.{{cite news

| first = Dave

| last= Flett

| title = Anti bodies boost City

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkcityfc/news/display.var.1556405.0.anti_bodies_boost_city.php

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 19 July 2007

| accessdate = 22 July 2007}}{{cite news

|title=York and Leeds draw

|url=http://www.confguide.com/newsArticle.do?id=6797

|publisher=Confguide

|date=14 July 2007

|accessdate=14 July 2007

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806073538/http://www.confguide.com/newsArticle.do?id=6797

|archivedate=6 August 2007

|url-status=dead

}}

He joined Mangotsfield United to keep match fitness and signed for Dorchester Town in September 2007.{{cite news

| title = Dutton and Lopez sign on

| url = http://www.dorchestertownfc.co.uk/news/2007/september/17-3.shtml

| publisher = Dorchester Town F.C.

| date = 17 September 2007

| accessdate = 20 September 2007

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071114030703/http://www.dorchestertownfc.co.uk/news/2007/september/17-3.shtml

| archive-date = 14 November 2007

| url-status = dead

}} He left the club in October.{{cite news

| title = Defender Hill loaned to Bashley

| url = http://www.dorchestertownfc.co.uk/news/2007/october/29-3.shtml

| publisher = Dorchester Town F.C.

| date = 29 October 2007

| accessdate = 1 November 2007

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071102080437/http://www.dorchestertownfc.co.uk/news/2007/october/29-3.shtml

| archive-date = 2 November 2007

| url-status = dead

}}

In March 2008 he re-signed for Pickering Town.

He joined Salisbury City in the Conference National on a one-year contract in August 2008 after a successful trial spell.{{cite news

| title = Dutton to sign for Salisbury City

| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/salisbury/7543497.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 5 August 2008

| accessdate = 18 August 2008}}

After only one year and 27 appearances, he moved to Conference North side Harrogate Town on 23 July 2009.{{cite news

| title = Weaver signs trio for Harrogate

| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8171012.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 27 July 2009

| accessdate = 27 July 2009}} After spending half a season at Harrogate Town, he was signed by Northwich Victoria until the end of the 2009–10 season. At the end of the season Brian was offered an improved contract from Northwich but decided to turn it down and to rejoin his former teammate, and now manager, Darrell Clarke, at Salisbury City.{{cite news

| title = Whites Kick Off at Home to Glassboys

| url = http://www.sport4salisbury.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3785:whites-kick-off-at-home-to-the-glassboys&catid=9:salisbury-city-football-news&Itemid=410

| publisher = Sport4Salisbury

| date = 13 August 2010

| accessdate = 13 August 2010}}

He became a utility player for the club, playing in a variety of places all over the pitch, before featuring on a regular basis at centre back – making the position his own. After the temporary departure of captain Chris Giles, manager Darrell Clarke gave the honour of club captain to Dutton, who led Salisbury to the Conference South after a play-off final victory against Hednesford Town on penalties.

He was rewarded with a new contract and club captaincy full-time and went on to help Salisbury to yet another promotion, once again via the playoffs, the final this time was against Chris Kinnear's Dover Athletic.{{cite web |title=Salisbury City 3–2 Dover Athletic |url=http://www.bluesqsouth.com/story/0,20970,13042_8709540,00.html |publisher=bluesqsouth.com |access-date=9 May 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621073721/http://www.bluesqsouth.com/story/0%2C20970%2C13042_8709540%2C00.html |archive-date=21 June 2013 }} Salisbury won the final in extra time, which meant Salisbury had earned promotion to the Conference National, the league they had been thrown out of three seasons earlier and Dutton had managed two promotions in the two seasons he was captain at the club.

In June 2014, Dutton left Salisbury City to sign for Havant & Waterlooville.{{cite news | title=Old boss Clarke is Harris' best man | url=http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/sport/11257824.Old_boss_Clarke_is_Harris__best_man/ | first=Joel | last=Holt | newspaper=Salisbury Journal | date=5 June 2014 | accessdate= 6 July 2016}}

Dutton signed for Eastbourne Borough on 6 July 2016.{{cite news | title=Defender Dutton joins the Sports | url=http://www.ebfc.co.uk/news.php?viewmessage=565 | publisher=Eastbourne Borough F.C. | date=6 July 2016 | accessdate=6 July 2016}}

In February 2017, Dutton re-joined Salisbury under new manager Steve Claridge. Alongside playing he worked towards his coaching badges, earning a UEFA A Licence and set up Salisbury soccer schools, providing coaching to children throughout Wiltshire and Hampshire.

In March 2017, Dutton was appointed under-23 assistant coach and overseas scout at League One club Bristol Rovers.{{cite news

| title = Who is new Bristol Rovers coach Brian Dutton?

| url = https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-new-bristol-rovers-coach-60132

| newspaper = Bristol Post

| date = 15 May 2017

| accessdate = 9 April 2019}}{{cite news

| title = Bristol Rovers looking at recruitment from abroad with introduction of new coach

| url = https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-rovers-looking-recruitment-abroad-56959

| newspaper = Bristol Post

| date = 12 May 2017

| accessdate = 9 April 2019}}{{cite news

| title = Interview: Brian Dutton

| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr7KdtFBcnM

| publisher = Official BRFC TV

| date = 17 August 2017

| accessdate = 9 April 2019}}

The 2017–18 season saw Dutton promoted to first team duties in late December 2017, standing in for long-time first team coach Steve Yates.

The 2018–19 season saw Dutton continue with his first team duties, mainly focussing on attacking set pieces. The attacking set piece conversion rate improved vastly in comparison to the 2017–18 season, with Bristol Rovers doubling their conversion rate from corners after only 16 games of the season.{{cite news

| title = "We've let ourselves down"- Darrell Clarke out to avoid banana skin against Barnet in FA Cup

| url = https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-rovers-barnet-preview-clarke-2202338

| newspaper = Bristol Post

| date = 11 November 2018

| accessdate = 9 April 2019}}{{cite news

| title = Reaction: Tony Craig post Swansea City U21s

| url = https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2018/december/tony-craig-post-swansea/

| publisher = Bristol Rovers FC

| date = 5 December 2018

| accessdate = 9 April 2019}}

In December 2018, long-time Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke and his assistant Marcus Stewart left the club, being replaced by interim manager Graham Coughlan, assisted by Dutton and Chris Hargreaves.{{cite news

| title = What managers have said about Bristol Rovers caretaker boss Graham Coughlan

| url = https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/what-managers-said-bristol-rovers-2329180

| newspaper = Bristol Post

| date = 15 December 2018

| accessdate = 9 April 2019}}

In May 2019, Dutton was announced to have left Bristol Rovers{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2019/may/brian-dutton-departs/|title=Brian Dutton To Leave Coaching Role|website=bristolrovers.co.uk|date=13 May 2019|accessdate=21 May 2019}} before he was appointed assistant manager at Walsall a week later where he would again be working alongside Darrell Clarke and Marcus Stewart.{{cite web|url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2019/may/club-statement-backroom-staff-changes/|title=Club Statement:Backroom Staff Changes|website=saddlers.co.uk|date=20 May 2019|accessdate=21 May 2019}} He became Walsall's head coach in February 2021 after Clarke joined Port Vale. His first match in charge, at home to Cheltenham Town, resulted in a 1–2 defeat.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56075213|title=Darrell Clarke: Port Vale appoint Walsall boss as new manager|date=15 February 2021|publisher=BBC|accessdate=5 January 2022}} Dutton inherited the most inexperienced squad in all four English divisions{{Cite web|title=Walsall FC Player Appearances {{!}} Past & Present {{!}} Soccer Base|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2737&teamTabs=stats|access-date=2021-07-13|website=soccerbase.com}} but was particularly commended for the courage he showed by blooding many youngsters into the Walsall team.{{Cite web|last=Keen|first=Liam|title=Leigh Pomlett: Brian Dutton sacking with a 'heavy heart' but Walsall's league finish 'unacceptable'|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/walsall-fc/2021/05/10/leigh-pomlett-brian-dutton-sacking-with-a-heavy-heart-but-walsalls-league-finish-unacceptable/|access-date=2021-07-13|website=expressandstar.com|language=en}} He gave league debuts to Sam Perry, Tom Leak and Joe Willis.  

High-profile former Walsall players such as Elijah Adebayo paid tribute to Dutton and his ability to nurture and develop. Adebayo was quoted saying "Dutton brought me to the football club and Dutts was the main figurehead, not only in training but off the field stuff, checking up on me, giving me little bits of advice, and telling me how I can make the next step up." Adebayo spoke of Dutton being a mentor as well as a coach during his time at Walsall.{{Cite web|last=Keen|first=Liam|title=Elijah Adebayo: Walsall rollercoaster made me|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/walsall-fc/2021/05/26/elijah-adebayo-walsall-rollercoaster-made-me/|access-date=2021-07-13|website=expressandstar.com|language=en}}

Many aspects of Walsall's game improved under Dutton. Defensively the team's clean sheet ratio went from 1 in 9 games to 1 in 3 games{{Cite web|title=League Two – goal statistics, over under stats and total goals|url=https://www.soccerstats.com/trends.asp?league=england4|access-date=2021-07-13|website=SoccerSTATS.com|language=en}} and their goals conceded per game ratio reduced significantly.{{Cite web|title=11v11 league table generator|url=https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-two/10-may-2021/|access-date=2021-07-13|website=11v11.com}} The lack of firepower from the inexperienced squad was a major issue and eventually cost Dutton his job despite the improvements. On 10 May 2021 Walsall parted company with Dutton with Walsall's Chairman Leigh Pomlett saying, "Chairmen often say, 'I made that decision with a heavy heart' and I'm never absolutely convinced they always mean it, on this occasion I can assure you I do, because Brian stepped up to the plate when he didn't need to when Darrell left. He pretty much achieved a lot of the things I wanted him to achieve, particularly with the young players coming through. With the way he dealt with the players, with the courage he showed and the resilience he showed. A lot of the qualities I looks for in human beings that are part of this football club, Brian Dutton has got. Brian did all that he could possibly do at this football club in the few months that he was here, I have nothing but praise for him and I wish him all the best wherever he goes, and I suspect one day he might surface as quite a force and I certainly hope that he does, we all owe him a debt of gratitude."{{Cite web|title=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/|access-date=2021-07-13|via=YouTube|language=en}} On 10 May 2021, after the season was concluded, Walsall announced that they were parting ways with Dutton.

On 17 March 2022, Dutton returned to League Two side Bristol Rovers in the role of Academy Manager following the departure of Chris Hargreaves.{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2022/march/new-academy-manager/|title=New Academy Manager is named|website=bristolrovers.co.uk|date=17 March 2022|accessdate=17 March 2022}} In July 2022, Dutton left the club for family reasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2022/july/anthony-named-academy-manager-04072022/|title=Anthony named Academy Manager|website=bristolrovers.co.uk|date=4 July 2022}}

On 14 October 2022, Dutton was appointed manager of one of his former clubs Salisbury following the departure of long-serving manager Steve Claridge.{{cite web|url=https://www.salisburyfc.co.uk/new-manager-appointed/|title=New Manager Appointed|website=salisburyfc.co.uk|date=14 October 2022|accessdate=14 October 2022}} Dutton oversaw the remainder of the season with largely the same squad inherited from Claridge, finishing in fifteenth position. In his first full season in charge, the club finished in third position, defeating AFC Totton on penalties in the play-off final to earn promotion to the National League South, their first season at the level since the club's reformation.{{cite web|url=https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/sport/24301988.afc-totton-miss-promotion-national-league-south/|title=REPORT: Salisbury promoted to National League South with penalty shootout win|publisher=Salisbury Journal|last=Rees-Julian|first=George|date=6 May 2024|accessdate=8 May 2024}}

Dutton attended Norton College prior to pursuing a national certificate in sport at York College. Brian was halfway through completing a National Diploma in Sport at York college before he decided to postpone the qualification and become the first ever footballer from York College Academy to sign professional terms with a league football club.{{cite news

| title = Delighted City boss insists he will not waste cash

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkcityfc/news/display.var.1546182.0.delighted_city_boss_insists_he_will_not_waste_cash.php

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 14 July 2007

| accessdate = 14 July 2007}} His father is the former jockey Dave Dutton who won the 1981 Scottish Grand National.

{{updated|match played 26 April 2025}}

Salisbury City

• Southern Football League Premier Division play-offs: 2010–11
• Conference South play-offs: 2012–13

Salisbury

• Southern Football League Premier Division South play-offs: 2023–24

{{reflist}}

• {{Soccerbase}}

{{National League South managers}}

{{Walsall F.C. managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dutton, Brian}}

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Malton, North Yorkshire

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Cambridge United F.C. players

Category:Weymouth F.C. players

Category:Eastleigh F.C. players

Category:Dorchester Town F.C. players

Category:Salisbury City F.C. players

Category:Harrogate Town A.F.C. players

Category:Northwich Victoria F.C. players

Category:English Football League players

Category:National League (English football) players

Category:Pickering Town F.C. players

Category:Footballers from North Yorkshire

Category:Havant & Waterlooville F.C. players

Category:Eastbourne Borough F.C. players

Category:Mangotsfield United F.C. players

Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. non-playing staff

Category:Walsall F.C. non-playing staff

Category:English football managers

Category:Walsall F.C. managers

Category:Salisbury F.C. managers

Category:English Football League managers

Category:Southern Football League managers

Category:21st-century English sportsmen