Full name Patrick Karl Kruse 1972–1975 Leicester City Place of birth Arlesey, England Name Pat Kruse | Playing position Role Football player Years Team Position Defender | |
Date of birth (1953-11-30) 30 November 1953 (age 62) | ||
Patrick Karl "Pat" Kruse (born 30 November 1953) is an English former professional football centre back who is best remembered for his five-year spell in the Football League with Brentford, for whom he made over 200 appearances. Kruse is known for scoring what is believed to be the fastest own goal of all time, netting past his own keeper after just eight seconds of a match in January 1977.
Contents
- Arlesey Town
- Leicester City
- Mansfield Town loan
- Torquay United loan and permanent signing
- Brentford
- Northampton Town loan
- Barnet
- Personal life
- As a player
- As an individual
- References
Arlesey Town
A Centre Back, Kruse began his career at hometown South Midlands League Premier Division club Arlesey Town. He departed in June 1970.
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 spurned the interest of fellow top flight side West Ham United to sign for Leicester. 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. Kruse failed to make another first team appearance for the Foxes and departed in March 1975, having made just two appearances in three years at Filbert Street. Looking back in 2005, Kruse felt he would have been better suited to transferring to West Ham United, rather than Leicester City.
Mansfield Town (loan)
Kruse moved to Division Four side Mansfield Town on loan in September 1974. He made six appearances and scored one goal during his spell. The Stags went on to secure promotion to Division Three as champions at the end of the 1974–75 season.
Torquay United (loan and permanent signing)
Kruse linked up with former Leicester City assistant manager Malcolm Musgrove to sign for Division Four side Torquay United on loan in March 1975. He made 10 appearances during the remainder of the 1974–75 season and signed permanently at the end of the campaign. Kruse went on to truly establish himself in the team the following season, featuring as an ever-present as the Gulls mustered a ninth-place finish. Kruse's performances were such that he won the club's 1975–76 Player of the Year award. 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 eight seconds of play. Kruse departed Torquay in March 1977, having made 79 league appearances and scored four goals during two years at Plainmoor.
Brentford
Kruse joined Division Four strugglers Brentford in March 1977, for what was then a club-record fee for a defender, £20,000. Opinions about the transfer were mixed, as he had been Brentford striker Gordon Sweetzer's marker in his final game for Torquay United, in which Sweetzer had scored a hattrick. The move reunited him with his former Leicester City coach Bill Dodgin. Kruse quickly established himself in the team, making 15 appearances and scoring two goals in what remained of the 1976–77 season, ending the possibility of the Bees having to seek re-election. 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 averaged 42 appearances a season and helped the side to promotion to Division Three in the 1977–78 season. His performances during the 1979–80 season won him the club's Player of the Year award. Kruse was out of favour under new manager Fred Callaghan during the 1981–82 season and made just one appearance. He left Brentford at the end of the season, having made 201 appearances and scored 12 goals in just over five years at Griffin Park.
Northampton Town (loan)
In search of regular football, Kruse joined Division Four strugglers Northampton Town in February 1982. He made 18 league appearances during his spell, without scoring.
Barnet
Kruse dropped into Non-League football to sign for Alliance Premier League side Barnet in 1982. He made 28 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.
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. After retiring from football, Kruse settled in Hitchin and became a builder.
As a player
Brentford