Although born and bred in Bradford, Bruce began his career with Leeds United on Associate Schoolboy forms. However Leeds decided not to offer him a contract and he joined Bradford City in June 1963, signing full-time forms two years later in August 1965.

No stranger to trouble with match officials, his nippy and assertive enthusiasm brought him goals.

Amazingly he was on the transfer-list for the whole of the 1970/71 season during a drawn out dispute over his contract.

In November 1971 he moved to Bristol Rovers for a fee of £23,000, a record at the time, before a transfer to Plymouth Argyle.