Bruce Bobbie Image 2 Middlesbrough 1934

Description

Paisley, Renfrewshire born inside forward Bobbie Bruce began his football career with Glasgow St Anthony’s in 1923 and joined Scottish League Aberdeen in June 1924, making his Scottish League debut in a 3-2 home defeat to St Mirren in November the same year. He had four seasons at Pittodrie scoring 45 goals in 110 appearances, before he was signed by First Division Middlesbrough for £4,000 in January 1928, making his Football League debut the next month against Bolton Wanderers, his sale described as a source of “general regret but no surprise”.

Although he couldn’t help save ‘Boro from relegation, he scored 11 goals as they won the Second Division Championship at the first time of asking in 1929, and followed this with 16 goals in the 1929-30 campaign as Middlesbrough consolidated their position back in the top flight. He was a regular goalscorer for Middlesbrough during his eight seasons at the club, and won his only Scotland cap while at ‘Boro, playing at inside left in a 2-2 draw with Austria at Hampden Park in November 1933.

After 72 goals in 253 appearances for Middlesbrough, he was signed by Sheffield Wednesday for £2,500 in October 1935 but the move didn’t work out, and he made only 6 appearances for The Owls, including playing in their 1-0 FA Charity Shield victory over Arsenal at Highbury in October 1935. He signed for Ipswich Town in August 1936 and played in their last two seasons as a non league club before joining Mossley as player manager in August 1938, a position he held until May 1939.