Willie Bruton - A Rambler's Tale

Playing for all four Munster League of Ireland clubs at a time when the standard (and wages) was probably at its highest, Willie Bruton remained in full-time employment throughout. Willie recently told ExtraTime.ie about his career, both on and off the football pitch.

Following schoolboys’ soccer with Springfield and Midleton, Bruton signed for Cobh Ramblers, staying with his local team for almost eight years.

He recalls his senior debut at 15: “Liam McMahon had me training with the first team. I was playing soccer with some lads and we used to go up to Ramblers at half-time, to get in for free. I was sitting at home eating my dinner and the phone rang: ‘Where are you? You’re supposed to be here, we’re playing Kilkenny City tonight.’ I couldn’t believe it!”

“I turned up and had to pay to get in. The game was just kicking off and I met McMahon at the dugout … He ate me alive. 20 minutes into it, Paul Coughlan got injured and I ended up playing the remainder. My buddies were on the sideline, who I was supposed to be watching the game with. They were looking at me stupid.”

“With McMahon it was pure old-school soccer. It was very hard to do anything special on the pitch because he’d murder you. When Dave Hill came in, he reconstructed the whole thing. When he was with Bohemians, he came to a few of our cup games. Once, against Terenure, up in Dublin, we were struggling. He was just a spectator and at half-time he said to me: ‘You’re playing way too deep’ … After that, I’d two goals within 20 minutes.”

During Hill’s first season in charge, the Rams lost a 2002/2003 play-off semi-final against Drogheda United: “In St. Colman’s Park we had two pens … I missed one. Terry White hit the stanchion and the ball came back out. I left it because I was celebrating, but the ref and the linesman waved play on.”

Disappointment for the forward, but on a personal note, notching 23 goals earned him a nomination for the First Division Player of the Year and interest from Waterford United.

“I probably should have moved at the time, but we had such a good season, the old Cobh heartstrings were pulling at me to stay put.”

The following season turned out to be a forgettable one for Willie: “I struggled that year. Pre-season and three weeks into it I was injured and the whole thing just snowballed after that.”

In 2004, the managerless Blues eventually got their man: “I signed for the chairman, but Alan Reynolds took the job and then Paul McGrath came in … It was daunting from the get-go. If I was back in Cobh midweek, Reynolds would make sure I’d train with Ramblers … That was like a stroll in the park. I couldn’t believe how much I’d come on in three months at Waterford.”

“Alan did rely on Giles (Cheevers, Reynolds’ assistant) a lot because of the playing aspect, but he managed to juggle it. He was outstanding, but if he knew he was having a stinker, he’d take himself off.”

The Cobh native formed a formidable strike partnership with Darryl Murphy, but fifth place in the Premier Division and a FAI Cup runners-up medal meant missing out on European football.

“Losing out on that (Europe) was a huge factor in the club … You could see it on everybody’s face. We would have finished way higher than that if we’d won that game (the 2004 FAI Cup final against Longford Town). On that day there was a bone of contention. A second ball came onto the pitch, we stopped and Alan Kirby scored … That was bitter. It was a good season, but …”

Midway through 2005, Damien Richardson signed Bruton to replace Kevin Doyle at Cork City, but his new full-time teammates held a distinct advantage.

“They were training non-stop and I struggled. I was in the fire brigade at that time. They were 15 percent sharper, fitter and I was coming off night-shift with no sleep.”

Involvement during Europa League games was offset by limited opportunities when capturing the Premier Division title: “Everyone has me down as winning the league with them, but I honestly don’t feel like I did.”

Regardless of having Dave Hill as assistant manager, Willie still considers his time with the Leesiders as a little surreal.

“As a Cobh fella, you have a massive rivalry with Cork City and it is weird playing for them. My heart was always at St. Colman’s Park, but obviously, you have to take the opportunity to jump up a level when you get it.”

Return spells with both Ramblers and the Blues didn’t quite work out second time around and then Bruton joined Limerick 37.

“I was debating packing up and signing for Avondale, but I said I’d give it (LOI football) one more shot … I drove to all the games myself.”

Willie eventually signed for the Munster Senior League side, managed by current Cork City boss John Caulfield, a move more suited to his full-time job. Although he’s represented Ireland for the army and fire brigade, balancing soccer and work has never been easy.

“I wasn’t supposed to be playing when I was doing my fire brigade training. Going into games, I was completely paranoid that I was going to get injured. It was on my mind every time I got the ball, but I was never going to give up work.”

Bruton still turns out for Cobh Wanderers junior team and is a regular at five-a-sides, deeming retirement to be a daunting prospect.

“I can’t say no to a game … It’s like a drug. Most fellas sneak out for a pint, but my missus knows if my runners are missing, I’m gone playing soccer.”

Football, as ever, one of the most enjoyable, but hardest habit to break…