Monday, 8th September 2008

News Archive

31st October 2001

Bruce Rioch

Bruce Rioch gave www.gresleyrovers.com an exclusive interview when he visited the Moat Ground to take training following John McGinlay's request for help.

"John McGinlay and I go back a long time, back to 1990 in fact when I was manager of Millwall football club and we bought John to Millwall for £65,000. It was a snip at the time and he was with me for 18 months and then I moved on to Bolton Wanderers where John became my second signing. I took Keith Branaghan on a free transfer and then I paid about £100,000 for John.

Our friendship has stayed since then, obviously it was a player manager relationship, but then he had his testimonial at Bolton in the past year and I went to join him for the game and then on Thursday or Friday last week my chief scout, who had been with me some years, Ian McNeil rang me to tell me that John's mother had died and that he was up in Scotland at Fort William.

I rang John to have a chat with him obviously and he told me that his mother had passed away and that his father was poorly. And I said to John well if I can be of any assistance to you in any way, because I know the type of events you have to oversee where you are in Scotland, then just call on me.

John came back down here for the game at the weekend and then he rang me on Monday and asked if I could come to Gresley and take a training session while he was in Scotland and I'm delighted to be here.

I have been here once before, I came with Jeff Bourne a number of years ago but I haven't been back since.

I follow the progress of the results in any event. You tend to look out for the results of the players that you've worked with in the past and I know that the recent form is good and my aim tonight was to come here and enjoy the work and let the players enjoy it."

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