On Alex Bruce’s desk sits a notebook titled Manchester United. When asked about this, the newly installed Macclesfield manager laughs. “Darren Fletcher was kind enough to show me around the training ground last night,” Bruce begins. “What a huge facility, it’s amazing,” he continues, his left arm reaching to open a cupboard full of stationery gifted by United’s manager. “He looked at me; I have a few books here. Fletch was very helpful. These are the people I should be trying to help.”
Bruce’s first managerial role was playing football light years away from Old Trafford. There’s enough space in his office to hang the Northern Premier League club’s weekend jersey. Are they luxurious? They extend to a small sofa, kettle and toaster.
However, the United theme still prevails. Bruce was appointed by director of football Robbie Savage, bringing with him Phil Bardsley as assistant and Paul McGuiness, who spent 23 years at Carrington, as head of coaching. “Phil and I were on the same youth team as kids and Paul was our coach,” Bruce explains. “We’re coming back a long way.”
Having reached the pinnacle of his career at Ipswich Town and Hull City, Bruce was exploring coaching opportunities at the academy when Savage called. He quickly realized that his passion would shine brighter “where people trust results and succeed.”
He describes himself as an “inexperienced, experienced coach” who has “ringside seats” in management through his father, Steve. “I’ve seen him, I’ve been around him for a long time. I hope this little bit of information will put me in a good place.
Bruce senior is an inevitable issue. “Newcastle,” Bruce Junior sighs when asked what his father’s magic is responsible for. A spell that ended abruptly following the club’s takeover in 2021. “Where do you start with this? He grew up just around the corner from the shipyards in Wallsend. And if he ever got a chance at it, he was always going to do it. It was his club. The abuse he received and the stick… I thought it was very harsh for someone who devoted his life to sports.
“It’s a fantastic club and they’re passionate, but when you take all the bullshit out of the way, he really was happier with the ownership than anyone else. Currently still supporting them. He wants Eddie to succeed. He wasn’t angry about it because he knew it was what had to happen. And if he were sitting here now, he’d say, ‘I did my part.’ It was difficult. But I kept them in the Premier League and I’d like to think I played a part in keeping the club stable for the new ownership.’ A new brush cleans every aspect of life.”
What advice has Alex been given, given his father’s experience of over 1,000 games in management? “It’s just ‘prepare for this; “It’s unlike anything you’ll ever experience in your life,” he said. Everything has been busy since the day I started working. “You do your coaching badges, but there is no training like throwing yourself into the deep end.”
“Nerves are on edge,” Bruce admits, recalling the first time he stood up in front of the players. “I was driving in, practicing, and I was looking at myself in the mirror and thinking ‘what am I doing’!”
Suddenly Bruce’s cell phone vibrates. She apologizes and takes the phone. “Roons…are you okay buddy?” he starts. “Fifty fifty. Okay, so the kids will drive. The caller is Wayne Rooney’s brother John. After a few seconds, the conversation ends. “Not letting him on the bus saved the club a few quid!”
But Rooney is far from Macclesfield’s biggest name. Danny Simpson, who started life at United before winning the Premier League with Leicester, signed a shirt. Likewise, Oumar Niasse made a £13.5 million transfer to Everton in 2016.
But with his part-time team, Bruce also has to deal with non-football responsibilities. “My centre-half, Laurent Mendy, works in a kitchen in Manchester,” says Bruce. “On Friday he knocked on the door and said ‘boss, we have a big game tomorrow, I want to play well… but I’m on the night shift, so I work from four to midnight. ‘Can you call me and try to get a few hours off so I can get a good night’s sleep?’ We managed to give him a few hours off!”
It would be easy to take a look at Macclesfield’s position at Step 3 of the non-league pyramid, just outside the play-offs, and assume Bruce’s job is devoid of pressure. However, the opposite is true.
The club was formed following the dissolution of Macclesfield Town in September 2020 and won back-to-back promotions in its first two seasons. Returning to the Football League is the ultimate aim.
Bruce wants his players to have fun, but he also realizes that “people raise their game against them.” “My job is to build a team and equip the young people to deal with it, but I have to balance that by not putting too much pressure on the children, otherwise they will feel like they are walking on eggshells, carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.”
Macclesfield are clearly improving again. Their artificial pitches mean the ground is rarely empty, whether for the first team, women’s team, international academy or external bookings. The men’s home league fans nudge 3,000 people, with the help of bars and a pizza oven along the field. “It’s a little different on match day,” Bruce explains. “Watch Gillette Soccer on Saturday and watch some football at halfback.” Only a football player would use such an expression. Bruce smiles. “I just need to get my players to play in half a round and I will have done that!”