Every Tuesday night, the Macclesfield boss gets together with a star-studded collection of former pros for a game of nine-a-side in neighbouring Cheadle.
“Stevie Ireland was the instigator and it started out as a WhatsApp group of about five or six people,” says Bruce, referring to the former Manchester City and Aston Villa midfielder.
“Now it’s about 20, and some of the names in that group… you’ve got Papiss Cisse, Phil Bardsley, Danny Drinkwater, Dale Stephens. Wes Brown plays now and again.
“One week, there was a back four of Antonio Valencia, Wes Morgan, Joleon Lescott and Danny Simpson – that’s four Premier League winners there.
“It gives a few old codgers like me the chance to burn a few calories and clear their heads. And no matter who you are and what kind of career you’ve had, it’s still better than slogging away on a treadmill, isn’t it?”
One recent admission to this exclusive group was Oumar Niasse, the former Senegal striker who in 2016 completed a £13.5m move from Lokomotiv Moscow to Everton.
Which is how, after a dismal fouryear spell at Goodison Park and equally barren stints at Burton Albion and Morecambe, the out-ofwork 33-year-old ended up signing a short-term deal to play for the Silkmen in the Northern Premier League, Premier Division.
“I got to know Oumar at the Tuesday game and I could see straight away that he still had plenty to offer someone,” explains Bruce, who wrapped up the deal on Thursday.
Denne historien er fra November 26, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra November 26, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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WHITES GO FOLLOWING
WIDNES moved six points clear at the top of the league following a gutsy draw at play-off-chasing Hednes ford.
SILKMEN ALMOST UP WITH BIG WIN
WINNING 3-1 at Warrington Rylands, and with their nearest rivals dropping points, Macclesfield tightened their grip on the league, extending their lead at the top to 22 points with just 10 games to play.
RESURGENT REYNOLDS REBELLING AT RYLANDS
NEIL Reynolds is relishing being back in control at Warrington Rylands - and says getting sacked by FC United was the best thing that could have happened to him.
KEV MUST SETTLE FOR A POINT!
SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher felt his deserved at least a share of the spoils from this hard-fought draw with Rochdale at Roots Hall.
BORO IN HEAVEN COURTESY OF MATT
MATT SARGENT scored late on to seal the points for Radcliffe after Kieran Burton was sent off for Buxton in the second half.
FIVE STAR TIGERS COOK-ING ON GAS
LOUCESTER put on a fivestar performance in front of a bumper crowd at the TigerTurf Stadium.
IT'S ALL CHANGE FOR CRISIS CELTS
...but board say 3G pitch plans shelved
BIRTHDAY BOY TAYLOR SEALS THE DEAL FOR SOLID ROBINS
GATESHEAD and Altrincham produced a trademark game between the two sides of thrills and spills, an entertaining match somehow producing just one goal.
PENALTY HEROICS INSPIRE WOOD!
A PENALTY save from Boreham Wood keeper Nathan Ashmore and three quickfire goals in what Eastbourne Borough boss Adam Murray described as \"five minutes of madness\" turned this game on its head.
LET US PLAY IF WE WANT
AFC FYLDE chairman David Haythornthwaite believes introducing a waiver form to exonerate officials when both clubs are happy to play a game in doubt, will see fewer matches postponed.
