Mike Trusson made only a limited impact at the Goldstone, but he did enjoy a successful career in Yorkshire before coming to Sussex. After a trial with Chelsea, the Middlesex born youngster was playing for a youth side in Somerset when he was taken on as an apprentice by Plymouth Argyle, and made his Football League debut as a trainee before signing professional forms in January 1977.
Playing up front, Mike scored fifteen goals in 73 League games in four seasons at Home Park which included a loan spell with Stoke City in December 1978) before moving to Sheffield United for £60,000 in July 1980. While with the Blades’ he won a Fourth Division championship medal in 1981-82 and appeared in 126 League matches before being exchanged for Rotherham United’s Paul Stancliffe in December 1983.
Three-and-a-half seasons and 124 League matches at Millmoor ended when a receiver was called in to handle the club’s affairs. Mike was offered less-favourable terms and was made available for transfer at £50.000, but, as a creditor of the club, he appealed to a Football League tribunal for a free transfer and won his case. Now able to negotiate his own conditions, he signed for the Albion in July 1987. but suffered persistent knee problems before makine his debut five months later.
Playing as a tough-tackling midfielder, Mike was plagued with injuries while at the Goldstone and, unable to establish himself in the team, moved to Gillingham for a £20,000 fee in August 1989 where he brought his total of League appearances to 434 before further injuries cut short his career.