Dennis outscored Best as the Red Lichties went up
The rise of Arbroath is arguably the story of the season so far.
They have a four-point lead at the top of the Championship, and are top scorers with 35 goals.
The idea of the Red Lichties being promoted to the Premiership is being taken more seriously with every passing week.
Having the division’s most- prolific goalgrabber – Michael Mckenna has hit the net 12 times – certainly helps.
The 31- year- old was bought from Berwick Rangers in January, 2018.
When Arbroath won promotion to the top flight 50 years before that, in 1968, they had Britain’s equal-top scorer.
Dennis Bruce bagged 32 goals, the same as Celtic’s Lisbon Lion, Bobby Lennox.
That total was better than anything England’s First Division could manage. George Best and Ron Davies of Southampton both found the net 28 times.
Remarkably, Arbroath also had the country’s second- top scorer, with Jimmy Jack recording a total of 30.
The Gayfield outfit had 62 goals between two strikers, but still finished second in the Second Division to St Mirren.
So it’s no wonder Arbroath manager, Albert Henderson, took just one look at Dennis Bruce and decided to sign him.
Dennis recalled: “I was playing for Sunnybank Juniors in Aberdeen when I got a phone call out of the blue from Albert, inviting me to play a trial.
“I t ra v e l l e d d ow n for the game at Cowdenbeath, and started the match.
“It was 0-0 at half-time, but 3-0 to Arbroath at time up – and I’d scored all three goals.
“Albert came on to the pitch, holding a form, as soon as the referee blew the final whistle.
“He put the form under my nose and told me where to sign.
“I said I should maybe speak to my club, but he wasn’t taking no for an answer. I was persuaded to sign there and then.”
It was a decision that worked out superbly for both parties.
“We had some really good players and it was a real pleasure to be with a team that was winning almost every week,” said Dennis.
“I had a good partnership with Jimmy Jack up front, but we also had good service to score the goals.
“We didn’t find it so easy once we were promoted, and finished bottom. That was probably because we were part-time.
“I worked in the Aberdeen fish market, and travelled down to training twice a week.
“Playing in the First Division did give me the great experience of playing at the top grounds in Scotland.
“We lost 7- 1 to Celtic at Parkhead, but I got our goal with a header in the last minute.
“Many years later, I was on holiday in Spain and overheard some women in a bar talking about Celtic.
“I told them I’d scored against their team – but they wouldn’t believe it.
“They got their mobile phones out, looked it up and had to admit I was right.
“I got bought drinks for the rest of the night. It was probably the best bonus I got from football!”
Not only did Dennis score against Celtic, he hit the net on both occasions when Arbroath came up against his hometown team, Aberdeen.
Dennis lobbed Bobby Clark in a 2- 2 draw at Pittodrie, and he was on target again when his side beat the Dons 2-1 at home.
Dennis, now 75, left Arbroath in 1972 for a short spell at Forfar.
He said: “Albert decided to change the team and I was told to disappear.
“After Forfar, I played in the Highland League for Huntly, Keith and Elgin City.”
Dennis was a Highland League title winner with Keith, and was in their team that knocked Hamilton Accies out of the Scottish Cup in 1980.