Welcome to the first in a new series where we profile some of the players that have donned the Red and the White stripes over the years. Some of these will be faces that you might remember with fondness but there will also be a fair sprinkling of players that we want to seriously forget about. To kick things off, we feature a striker whose spell at Sunderland is probably a forgettable one. Step forward, Brett Angell.
Marlborough born Angell started his professional career on the South Coast at Fratton Park but was released without a single appearance to his name in three years at Portsmouth. The 6ft 4in striker though wasn’t a centre forward in those days as he was seen as a commanding centre half prospect, but a free transfer switch to Cheltenham Town saw him switched to a striking berth after impressing in a training session. The move paid immediate dividends and saw him bag 22 goals by February for the then Conference side, landing him a £45,000 move to then top flight Derby County. However, the move didn’t work out and after eight months and no games for the Rams, he moved down three divisions to Stockport County: becoming their then record signing. After a less than impressive start, Angell would find his shooting boots and finish the Fourth Division’s top scorer in 1989-90 with 23 goals, but County would miss out on promotion in the play-offs.
The pain of missing out on promotion hurt Angell so much he requested a move. His wish was granted, and that summer saw him swap Stockport for Southend where he would bag 49 goals in just 99 appearances in his first two seasons. Whilst the next two seasons saw less appearances and goals at a higher level mainly due to injuries, Angell was on the radar of top flight sides and it was Mike Walker and Everton who took a gamble on the then 26-year-old with a successful £500K bid. However, the Premier League appeared to be a step up too far for him with just one goal in 21 appearances for the Toffees in 14 months. Sunderland took a £600K punt on him when under the managerial stewardship of Mick Buxton, but he flopped on Wearside too with one goal in 11 matches for us which came in a 1-1 League Cup First Round First Leg draw at Deepdale.
After failing to impress Reidy, loan spells at divisional opponents Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion followed but neither turned into a permanent move. His ill-fated spell with the Lads would end in August 1996 as he re-joined former club Stockport, initially on loan, then for a cut price £120K transfer. Back at Edgeley Park, he would regain his scoring touch and net 50 times in four seasons. However, his fourth season would see him on the fringes and spend time again out on loan to then Second Division sides Notts County and Preston North End. After being released by the Lilywhites at the end of the season, his next stop was Walsall where he would again net double figures in his first season and achieve promotion via the play-offs.
After a less than productive season in the First Division, Brett dropped back down two divisions to ambitious Third Division side Rushden and Diamonds (funded by Max Griggs of Doc Martens notoriety) in March 2002. The following season saw him turn out for both Port Vale and Queens Park Rangers in the Second Division but was released by the R’s following their play-off final loss that season to Cardiff City. He planned to move into the Northern Irish top flight and sign for Linfield but when the Blues wanted to see him on trial first before issuing a contract, Angell decided against the move and subsequently called time on his 19-season career with a more than creditable 202 goals in 546 games in all competitions to his name. It was just a shame none of this really happened at Roker.
Since hanging up his boots, Angell has held a number of coaching roles including one at Portsmouth where it had all begun as an apprentice in 1984. He also managed in New Zealand at Hawke’s Bay United for four seasons before being replaced in 2019.
