He never played a game for United, and in August 2002, he returned to Third Division Carlisle on a month-to-month basis contract.
[4] Brain was signed by Brian Horton for Second Division Port Vale in August 2003,[5] giving up his job as a sports instructor at a holiday park in the process.
At the end of the season, manager Keith Alexander offered Brain a three-year contract, which he signed.
[6] In 2008–09 he played 52 games to become only the third player in the club's history to enjoy an ever-present campaign in the Football League.
[14] He started off the 2010–11 season as first-choice goalkeeper, before losing his place to club legend Jimmy Walker, who was re-signed in October 2010.
[20] He helped the "Dabbers" to the FA Cup first round for the first time in the club's history in 2011, at which point they were eliminated by League One Milton Keynes Dons.