With Gillingham still searching for a new manager, the name of a former fan’s favourite has become the bookies favourite over the last few days – a player who left Priestfield in the mid 1980s but even today is still fondly remembered by many… 

And we set Mike Green the task (because he’s the only one who remembers that far back) of reminiscing about those days from the Priestfield terraces, and along with former Club photographer and Commercial Manager John Letley and author of the excellent reviews of the Gills Wembley Play Off Finals and BBC producer Haydn Parry with the centre of their discusssion being STEVEN ROGER BRUCE… 

Brucie started his career at Priestfield in 1979 and in five years at the club went onto make over 200 appearances in Gillingham blue. 

JOHN LETLEY – I can’t say that I was at that infamous trial match where we could have signed the two boys from Wallsend Boys Club. Gerry Summers chose Steve Bruce because Buster Collins said a certain Peter Beardsley couldn’t tackle!

I saw Steve play for the Reserves a couple of times in midfield where he could certainly tackle, but couldn’t pass. I then remember him playing at centre-back against the Reserves from, I think Ipswich, and he was outstanding! Read the game well, marshalled the defence and was as brave as an Ox! 

MIKE GREEN – For me my first memories of him was playing for the Saturday morning youth team at the Garrison as a lanky midfielder… 

HAYDN PARRY – A gamboling, exuberant midfielder from my hazy recall, a little too exuberant! He picked up a fair few yellows in the early days following his first team debut but his enthusiasm and sheer dynamism and commitment made him an immediate favourite. 

Many times I remember watching him alongside you Mike from our perch on the wall on the terraced Gordon Road corner of the Rainham End as he was preparing to launch long throws – and also getting him to sign a programme – or three – prematch. I do remember his debut against Luton in the League Cup and I’m sure he got booked! 

MG – Those midfield days were an adventure weren’t they? I remember seeing a picture of his one day (might have been one of yours) of a Brucie scissor kick at the Rainham end – he simply had no fear… any idea what turned Brucie from a midfielder into a world class defender? And do not just say Buster Collins!!! 

JL – I think what Buster recognised was that Steve read the game well and knew instinctively when to step out of the line whether forward or backwards.

It wasn’t like Mark Weatherly where necessity saw him change from a striker to a centre-back. Steve Bruce was probably the best centre-back of his era not to win a full Cap for England!

I mean taking everything into consideration, Steve Bruce was real class. Making his full debut against Luton Town in the League Cup in August 1979 and ending up as the Club’s Player of the Year.

But he also loved to entertain; do you remember a televised game against Fulham when taking a throw in at the Rainham End Main Stand side instead of picking up the ball he went to throw in a balloon?

Eventually throwing the ball in it led to a goal much to Fulham’s annoyance! 

HP – In that game he scored with a diving header which hit the frame of the goal and Kenny Price “made sure” although I think Steve got it eventually and I think I’m right in saying that he broke his nose that day too. 

We were on Match of the Day that night – in the days when there were just the highlights of two games and there was around 10,000 in Priestfield and for once we won on the telly! Seem to remember him scoring another brilliant diving header against Oxford that same season! 

MG – we did win 2-0 that day and it was a cracking finish from Paddy (Powell) for the second after the balloon throw was eventually taken properly.  

And so to THAT Newport game – have you ever seen a better centre back v centre forward battle at the ground? Steve Bruce v Tommy Tynan – two completely committed players – one defender, one forward with literally no holds barred. Has anyone ever seen such a gladatorial battle on the football pitch?  Im struggling over a 40+ years period? 

JL – It was April 1983, when all big clubs were sniffing around, and a moment of, let’s be kind and say anger, he tried to maim the Newport County striker, got it all wrong and broke his own leg putting an end to any transfer! 

I’m with you, Mike, but still don’t know what happened to cause Bruce to have such a rush of blood! But when was fit, just in time to play in the matches against Everton, and it was his gladiatorial performances that reignited the interest of the top-flight Club’s and in particular Norwich City. 

HP – that was some afternoon. Tynan punched Brucie off the ball and the referee didn’t see it. Keith Peacock said at the time Tynan should have gone but Steve lost his cool and took matters into his own hands.

He took Tynan out completely and broke his own leg in a horrendous challenge – it was a sickening sound and he must have got a red card if he wasn’t being carried away on a stretcher! 

MG – I think you’re both right and if the leg break hadnt happened he may have left that summer, so I guess that the Everton games in 1984 put him back on the map? I know he bounced one off the bar at Goodison, but just how good was he that day? 

JL – I was in the Gladys Road Stand and every time that Everton got on top and the Gills support responded by cranking up the volume it seemed that Bruce got pumped and lifted those around him.

I remember talking to Lance Morgan on the Monday and he said there were only two topics of conversation in the Press Room after the game at Goodison; first was how long before Howard Kendall got sacked and two, which topflight club would Bruce sign for! 

HP – the game at Goodison (the first of the three) was one of THE great away days – a football special all the way from Medway to Merseyside followed a police escort for our double decker bus – we had a copper on the bus who admitted to being a Liverpool fan and he admitted as we were getting off that he hoped we stuffed them! 

Steve was at his height for us, and he told me once that he still thinks that his performances against Everton and the media attention went a long way to getting him the Norwich move.

He came close to so nearly giving us the giant-killing – we had a series of corners and from one of them he was on his knees, head in hands, not knowing how the ball stayed out. This was before Everton were League Champions remember… 

MG – And I for one am convinced that if Steve’s header had gone in or Neville Southall had not had THE night of his career in the first replay, Howard Kendall would not have led them to domestic and European trophies as after all they would not have won the Cup that year for starters! 

And then we got to the fateful day when he left for Norwich – we knew it was coming, but it must have been tough for Keith Peacock to agree the deal mustn’t it? and might it be fair to say that Keith’s side didn’t really recover? 

JL – Personal view, if he had not broken his leg, he was a nailed-on cert for a big move! £135,000 was a lot of cash for the Club which, I guess, could not be turned down. You are correct about Keith’s team because how do you replace someone like Steve Bruce from your existing squad!? 

HP – you might be right Mike but remember Tony Cascarino leaving also springs to mind, but Steve deserved to move up the ladder and it was great to see him in Manchester via Norwich of course playing for United even if I am a “member” of the anyone but United club! 

MG – and so to today and you never know John, you might be able to put your question to the man himself and might have to answer soon if the bookies are to be believed that a Brucie homecoming may be on the cards. What do think about that??? 

JL – my overriding memory is that he was down to earth and Gills right down the centre, perhaps like a stick of rock. I remember the reaction of the crowd when Damien was appointed Manager. If Mr Galinson appoints Steve Bruce, they might just need new roofs around Priestfield Stadium! 

HP – I was lucky enough to do a piece with Steve when he came back to Priestfield as Huddersfield manager in 2000. He had deep affection for dear Bill Collins – who put him up when he was a youngster at the club and was still very attached to the Club for giving him his break in professional football.

He told me that he would always be grateful – and remember we rejected Peter Beardsley the same day from the same game! I remember that he told me at the time that he still looked for the Gills result… 

We would like to thank both John and Haydn for their time and now we all just have to wait and see as to whether there will be a Priestfield return for the boy from Corbridge in Northumberland…