FORMER Barnsley ace Bruce Dyer is reluctantly hanging up his boots as he settles into his new role running the revived Grime-thorpe Miners’ Welfare Sports Ground.
The ground on Cemetery Road had been left vandalised and disused for more than two years, but Bruce and a team of volunteers have put a lot of work into getting it ready for its reopening on August 27.
The bank holiday will see the club host Bruce’s Love Life Festival, as well as an all-star exhibition match featuring some famous ex-Reds including Bobby Hassell, Brian Howard, Ashley Ward, and, until recently, Bruce himself.
But Bruce, 43, has had to rule out a return to the pitch which will be a blow to Grimethorpe Sports, the non-league side that will relocate to the ground once it opens, and which Bruce had planned to turn out for.
“I’m always tempted to get the boots back on, and that was the plan, but I actually injured my foot,” Bruce said.
“I’m so gutted about it but I have been advised to leave the boots hung up.
“I think I have just overdone it. I was planning to sign for Grimethorpe Sports as well as playing in the all-star game.
“It’s a weird one really, sometimes things happen for a reason and open a new chapter of life and you have got to leave things behind. It’s the wise thing to do.
“I’m disappointed I didn’t get my re-match with Bobby. I have been thinking I might get stripped off if there’s a penalty to take and come straight back off afterwards.”
While Bruce had been working hard in the gym until his injury, he has been working even harder to get the sports ground up and running.
After the previous tenant, Access to Sport, terminated its contract with the ground’s owner, the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO), Bruce agreed a 25-year lease and began a range of works to improve the site.
Bruce said: “It’s been a lot of work, but the support from the community and local businesses has been phenomenal.
Over the last year or so people have been discouraging me from taking on the site, and there is a lot to do, but from the community, the council and CISWO there is a really good feeling.
“There’s so much history to the ground, the number of people that have said they used to go there as young kids; older people that played cricket there, for it to be used again would be so good for the community.
“I’m a converted Yorkshireman, I love Barnsley, so thank God I have been given that opportunity to contribute and give something back.
“Anything is a challenge but if you believe in what you’re doing, people will buy into it.
“I wouldn’t have taken it on if I didn’t think it would work.”
Bruce’s The Love Life Festival will see a live music stage at the ground, with music coming from Bruce’s wife Janine, who is a singer, the Dearne Valley Brass Band, and other artists.
There will also be a funfair, a football tournament organised alongside Barnsley FC’s academy, and an appearance from freestyle footballer Dan Magness.
The festival takes place on August 27, from 1pm to 6pm. The all-stars football match will kick off at 3pm.
