We are absolutely delighted to announce that club legend, Steve Bruce, will be our special guest for a Sportsman's Dinner event at MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Thursday March 26.
The event will be compered by Adger Brown who will also conduct a Q + A with Steve on stage. A three-course meal will be served, and a silent auction will also take place with some fantastic memorabilia items on offer.
MEMS Power Generation will be the official sponsors. Pro Parts will be our co-sponsors.
Bruce, 65, began his career with Gillingham in 1977 and made his professional debut in a League Cup tie at Priestfield in August 1979. He went on to make a total of 237 appearances in all competitions for Gills, scoring 38 times, before his departure to Norwich City in the summer of 1984.
Steve will be replacing Kevin Keegan as our special guest due to health reasons, and everyone at the club wishes Kevin a speedy recovery.
Bruce makes a return to Kent nearly 18 months after visiting ME7 as manager of Blackpool in an Emirates FA Cup tie in November 2024, with his side completing a 2-0 win. He left his role at Bloomfield Road late last year, where former Gills boss Stephen Clemence was his First-Team Coach.
His spell as a player at Carrow Road lasted three years before Sir Alex Ferguson signed the centre-back at Manchester United where he went on to win three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup and one European Cup Winners' Cup.
He left Old Trafford in 1996 and, following a spell with Birmingham City, he was appointed player-manager at Sheffield United in the summer of 1998, but played just 11 games before retiring as a player to focus fully on the management side.
Following his spell at Bramall Lane he spent time at Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic and Crystal Palace before returning to Birmingham where he won two promotions to the Premier League, one via the play-offs.
He left St. Andrew’s in the summer of 2007 to take the managerial hot seat at Wigan, but in 2009 moved to Sunderland to replace Ricky Sbragia.
His time at Hull City proved more fruitful, again winning two promotions to the Premier League while also winning an FA Cup runners up medal in 2014, his side being defeated at Wembley by Arsenal.
After spending time at Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday, Bruce was offered the manager’s job at Newcastle United and spent just over two years at the club before parting company. Five months later he joined Sheffield Wednesday but left the club less than 12 months into the job.
His final role was with Blackpool, spending just over a year in Lancashire having replaced Neil Critchley. Bruce was relieved of his duties in October last year.
In total he managed over 1000 games and made over 900 appearances as a player.
We cannot wait to welcome Steve back to MEMS Priestfield Stadium, and tickets are now on sale for the event which can be purchased via this link, or via the bottom of this article.
Individual tickets cost £72 + VAT or a table of ten can be purchased for £695 + VAT.
BUY TICKETS | STEVE BRUCE SPORTSMAN'S DINNER
For more information, please contact our sales team on 01634 300000 (option 2) or email sales@gillinghamfc.com
