Pat Kruse

Career

Arlesey Town A centre back, Kruse began his career at hometown South Midlands League Premier Division club Arlesey Town.

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. 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. 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. He departed Filbert Street at the end of the 1974–75 season. He flourished under Bill Dodgin's management and became a stalwart in the Brentford defence for the next four seasons, assuming the captaincy and forming partnerships with other centre backs Paul Shrubb, Nigel Smith and Danis Salman.

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. He made 31 appearances and scored one goal before retiring at the end of the 1982–83 season. Differences with manager Barry Fry saw Kruse turn his back on the game at age 29. He retired in 2022. 0 31 1

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Honours Brentford Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion: 1977–78

Individual

Torquay United Player of the Year: 1975–76 Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year: 1979–80 Brentford Players' Player of the Year: 1979–80