Pat Kruse

Last updated

Pat Kruse
Personal information
Full name Patrick Karl Kruse [1]
Date of birth (1953-11-30) 30 November 1953 (age 70)
Place of birth Arlesey, England
Position(s) Centre back
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
Arlesey Town
1972–1975 Leicester City 2 (0)
1974 → Mansfield Town (loan) 6 (1)
1975 → Torquay United (loan) 10 (0)
1975–1977 Torquay United 69 (4)
1977–1982 Brentford 186 (12)
1982 → Northampton Town (loan) 18 (0)
1982–1983 Barnet 28 (1)
Total291(17)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Patrick Karl Kruse (born 30 November 1953) is an English former professional footballer who is best remembered for his five-year spell in the Football League with Brentford, for whom he made over 200 appearances as a centre back. [2] Kruse is known for scoring what is believed to be the fastest own goal of all time, netting past his own keeper after just six seconds of play in a match in January 1977. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Career

Arlesey Town

A centre back, Kruse began his career at hometown South Midlands League Premier Division club Arlesey Town. [7] He departed in June 1970. [8]

Leicester City

Kruse secured a move to the top tier of English football in June 1970 when he signed for the club he supports, Leicester City. [8] [9] He had to wait over two years to make his professional debut for the Foxes, which came with a start in a 1–0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on 27 April 1974. [7] Owing to Malcolm Munro's injury, he filled in again two days later versus Norwich City, this time helping Leicester to a clean sheet in a 3–0 win. [7] Kruse failed to make another first team appearance for the Foxes and moved to Fourth Division club Mansfield Town on loan in September 1974. [1] He departed Filbert Street at the end of the 1974–75 season. [7]

Torquay United

Kruse linked up with former Leicester City assistant manager Malcolm Musgrove to sign for Fourth Division club Torquay United on loan in March 1975. [9] [1] He made 10 appearances during the remainder of the 1974–75 season and signed permanently at the end of the campaign. Kruse established himself in the team the following season and won the club's Player of the Year award. [6] The most memorable event of Kruse's time with Torquay came in a match versus Cambridge United in January 1977, when he scored what is claimed to be the quickest own goal of all time, scoring after just six seconds of play: [4] [5]

The game was delayed for about an hour because of a frozen pitch, but when it got underway, Cambridge had kick-off and punted it forward. I was playing centre-half and could see their winger and centre-forward running towards me. The easy thing would have been to head the ball straight back out again but, at the last second, I thought I'd flick it back to my goalkeeper and we'd have possession. Unbeknown to me, I was standing just inside the box and Terry Lee, the goalkeeper, came off the line to come and catch it. Then he tried to shout for it, but he had a speech impediment and that's when his affliction kicked in – he stuttered, but nothing came out at all. As far as I knew, he was still in his goal, but when he realised I didn't hear, he tried to go back, slipped on the ice and as I flicked it back, I could see him lying on the floor as the ball went in. Unfortunately, it wasn't caught on camera! [10]

Kruse departed Torquay United in March 1977, having made 79 league appearances and scored four goals during two years at Plainmoor. [1]

Brentford

Kruse joined Fourth Division strugglers Brentford in March 1977, for what was then a club-record fee for a defender, £20,000. [2] Opinions about the transfer were mixed, as he had been Brentford forward Gordon Sweetzer's marker in his final game for Torquay United, in which Sweetzer had scored a hat-trick. [2] Kruse quickly established himself in the team and made 15 appearances and scoring two goals in what remained of the 1976–77 season [11] He flourished under Bill Dodgin's management and became a stalwart in the Brentford defence for the next four seasons, [12] assuming the captaincy and forming partnerships with other centre backs Paul Shrubb, Nigel Smith and Danis Salman. [9] Kruse averaged 42 appearances a season and helped the club to promotion to the Third Division in the 1977–78 season. [2] His performances during the 1979–80 season won him the club's Player of the Year award. [13]

Kruse was out of favour under new manager Fred Callaghan during the 1981–82 season and made just one appearance before joining Fourth Division strugglers on loan Northampton Town in February 1982. [1] [10] [11] Kruse rejected a potential permanent transfer to the County Ground due to wage concerns. [10] He left Brentford at the end of the season, after making 201 appearances and scored 12 goals in just over five years at Griffin Park. [2]

Barnet

Kruse dropped into non-League football to sign for Alliance Premier League club Barnet in 1982. [14] He made 31 appearances and scored one goal before retiring at the end of the 1982–83 season. [14] [15] Differences with manager Barry Fry saw Kruse turn his back on the game at age 29. [9]

Personal life

During his time at Brentford, Kruse commuted to the town from his Midlands home with David McKellar and picked up Jim McNichol and Bob Booker on the way. [12] After retiring from football, Kruse settled in Hitchin and became a builder. [12] [16] He retired in 2022. [10]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leicester City 1973–74 [7] First Division 200000—20
Torquay United (loan) 1974–75 [1] Fourth Division 100———100
Brentford 1976–77 [11] Fourth Division152———152
1977–78 [11] 4012020—441
1978–79 [11] Third Division 4441020—474
1979–80 [11] 4431020—473
1980–81 [11] 4223020—472
1981–82 [11] 100000—10
Total186127080—20112
Northampton Town (loan) 1981–82 [1] Fourth Division180———180
Barnet 1982–83 [15] Alliance Premier League 28110—2 [a] 0311
Career total2441380802026213
  1. ↑ Appearances in FA Trophy

Honours

Brentford

Individual

Related Research Articles

David James Webb is an English former professional footballer who made 555 appearances in the Football League playing for Leyton Orient, Southampton, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, Leicester City, Derby County, AFC Bournemouth and Torquay United. He became a manager, taking charge of Bournemouth, Torquay United, Southend United, Chelsea, Brentford and Yeovil Town.

Douglas Stewart Allder is an English former professional footballer who made over 200 appearances in the Football League for Millwall as a left winger. He was capped by England at youth level and is a member of the Millwall Hall of Fame.

George Edward Francis was an English professional footballer, best remembered for his two spells as a centre forward in the Football League with Brentford. He is a member of the Brentford Hall of Fame and is synonymous with Jim Towers – their close friendship and strike partnership saw the pair dubbed 'The Terrible Twins'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Partridge</span> English footballer

Scott Malcolm Partridge is an English retired professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League, most notably for Brentford. In a nomadic league career, he also played League football for Bristol City, Rushden & Diamonds, Torquay United, Cardiff City, Bradford City, Plymouth Argyle, Scarborough and Exeter City. He was described as "an immensely skilful little striker with a wonderful first touch", while "rarely getting the goals his contribution deserved".

Gordon Eric Peter Sweetzer is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played as a forward. In a short, injury-plagued career, he played in the Football League for Brentford, Cambridge United and in the North American Soccer League for Toronto Blizzard and Edmonton Drillers. Sweetzer won three caps for Canada and later became a manager and coach. As a player, he was described as "an aggressive, all-action, bustling striker, with little finesse about his game".

John Joseph Graham is a Scottish former professional football player and manager who played as a central midfielder and inside left. He is best remembered for the decade he spent in the Football League with Brentford, for whom he made over 400 appearances. Graham was voted into the Brentford Hall of Fame in December 2013.

Leslie Oliver Lawrence is an English former footballer who played as a forward. He scored 105 goals in 395 league and cup games during a twelve-year career in the Football League, most of which was spent in the Fourth Division.

Steven Edward Phillips is an English former professional footballer who had a long career as a forward for a number of teams in the Football League in the 1970s and 1980s. He scored 200 goals from 562 league appearances.

Danis Mahmut Mehmet Salman, sometimes known as Danny Salman, is an English former professional football player and coach, best remembered for his time as a defender in the Football League with Brentford. He made over 380 appearances for the Bees, is the club's youngest-ever league debutant and was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame. He also played for Millwall, Plymouth Argyle and Torquay United. Born in Cyprus, he represented England at youth level.

Melvyn Douglas Scott was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half in the Football League for Brentford and Chelsea. He was capped by England at youth and U23 level.

Michael Dennis Everitt is an English former professional football player and manager. As a left back, Everitt made over 200 appearances in the Football League for Northampton Town and he later managed in the Football League, Africa and the Middle East.

Robert Herdman Ross is a Scottish retired professional footballer and coach, best remembered for his six years as a forward and midfielder in the Football League with Brentford, for whom he made 323 appearances. He spent over two decades working in the youth system at Queens Park Rangers and retired in 2008. Ross is a member of the Brentford Hall Of Fame.

Kenneth William Horne was an English professional footballer and coach, best remembered for his 11 years in the Football League with Brentford, for whom he made over 220 appearances. He was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2015.

David George Carlton is an English retired professional footballer who made 320 appearances as a midfielder in the Football League, most notably for Northampton Town and Brentford.

Dean Smith was an English professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Leicester City and Brentford.

Anthony Funnell is an English retired professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League.

Andrew James Feeley is an English retired professional footballer who played in the Football League for Leicester City, Brentford, Bury and Hereford United as a right back. He later became manager of North West Counties League club Ramsbottom United and also worked as scout.

During the 1976–77 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. After a poor start to the season, Bill Dodgin Jr. appointed to replace inexperienced manager John Docherty. With re-election looking likely, Dodgin overhauled the playing squad and the Bees won 14 of the final 18 matches of the season to complete a remarkable turnaround and finish in mid-table.

During the 1977–78 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. 58 goals from Steve Phillips and Andrew McCulloch helped the club to a 4th-place finish and promotion to the Third Division. Phillips' 36 goals was the most in English league football by any player during the season.

During the 1982–83 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Third Division. The high point of a mid-table season was a run to the fourth round of the League Cup, then the furthest the club had then progressed in the competition. The 107 goals scored during the season is a club record.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Pat Kruse". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. pp. 139–140. ISBN   978-0955294914.
  3. ↑ Edgar, Bill (17 July 2006). "Hilarity and tragedy: curse of the own goal". The Times. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007.
  4. 1 2 Gifford, Clive (2010). The Kingfisher Football Encyclopedia. Kingfisher. p.  29. ISBN   978-0753419618.
  5. 1 2 "Levski Sofia defender in tears after own goal record". Reuters . Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 "Local Studies Education Series – Torquay United" (PDF). Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Pat Kruse – Leicester City career stats". FoxesTalk. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Transfers to or from Arlesey Town". FoxesTalk. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Lane, David (2005). Cult Bees & Legends: Volume Two. Hampton Hill: Legends Publishing. pp. 46–59. ISBN   0954368282.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Long, Dan. "Kings of the Castle: Pat Kruse". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 394–396. ISBN   0951526200.
  12. 1 2 3 Brentford Official Matchday Magazine versus Mansfield Town. Blackheath: Morganprint. 8 August 1998. p. 19.
  13. 1 2 Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the 70s. Legends Publishing. p. 295. ISBN   978-1906796709.
  14. 1 2 "Disappointing end to the season for the Bees !!" . Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  15. 1 2 "Pat Kruse". Downhill Second Half – A Barnet FC Archive. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  16. ↑ "Where are they now?". Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.