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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SHAKERS REVEL IN MAKING HISTORY
DAVE McNabb says Bury's FA Cup heroes are proud to be writing their own chapters in club history.
WILCOX: WE FEEL COMPLETE WITH WIN
RUSS WILCOX'S verdict after watching his Gainsborough Trinity side outmuscle and outplay their hosts was that it was \"probably our most complete performance\".
CRACKER BY KABIA TOPPLES TUDORS!
ASSISTANT boss Stewart Yetton said his Truro City side were good value for their win over table-toppers Hemel Hempstead Town.
BRAKES PUT STOP ON BORO BATTLERS
SEPARATED only by goal difference before kick-off, these sides remain neck and neck in the embryonic table after playing out 90 minutes in the October sunshine that was a great advert for the division.
BOSS COTT'S GOT A REALLY GOOD THING WITH ROVERS
STEVE Cotterill hailed Forest Green Rovers’ first class performance as they produced a spirited comeback to topple fellow high-flyers Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.
SKIPS STEER HEED'S SHIP
GATESHEAD captains of the past and present are playing a lead role in helping the National League club move on from the departure of FA Trophy-winning manager Rob Elliot.
FA CUP PREVIEW: SWEET! 'DREAM' DRAW IS CHANCE OF OUR LIFETIME
DAVE NORTHFIELD says minnows Biggleswade FC were like 'kids in a sweet shop' when they drew out York City in what he describes as the 'draw of a lifetime'.
PARKER'S HEART IS STILL AT HOME
FORMER England right-back Paul Parker has revealed he would never completely rule out a return to management – but says he would only do so for one of his beloved local clubs.
LOCALS RALLY TO REBUILD BRIDGE
WHEN committee members at Bamber Bridge set out to raise £30,000 to protect the club's future, they were apprehensive about the response they'd get.
RUTHLESS BEES FIND THEIR FEET
ASTERLING second-half performance resulted in league leaders Barnet brushing aside a Boston United outfit that led at the interval through Keaton Ward’s early strike.