An inside left who developed with the Glaswegian junior side Saint Anthony"s, Bruce spent his senior career with Aberdeen (1924–1928), Middlesbrough F.C. (1928–1935), Sheffield Wednesday F.C. (1935–1936), and Ipswich Town F.C. (1936–1938). His last club was Mossley F.C., where he held the role of player-manager during the 1938-1939 season. He played once for the Scottish national team, against Austria in 1933.