Martin Bradley (footballer)

Martin Bradley (1886–1958) was an English professional footballer who played as an inside-right in the period before World War I.

Martin Bradley
Personal information
Date of birth 1886
Place of birth Goldenhill, England
Date of death 1958 (aged 71–72)
Position(s) Inside forward
Youth career
South Kirkby[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1907–1908 Grimsby Town 28 (6)
1908–1910 Mexborough Town
1910–1911 Sheffield Wednesday 2 (0)
1911–191? Bristol Rovers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club history

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Bradley was born at Wolstanton on the outskirts of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. Bradley began his career with South Kirkby[2] he joined Grimsby Town of the Football League Second Division in 1907. After a season at Blundell Park, he dropped down to the Midland League with Mexborough Town.[3]

He signed for Sheffield Wednesday in April 1910[4] with whom he briefly returned to top-flight football and made two appearances for, before joining Bristol Rovers in May 1911,[5] where he ended his career in the Southern League.[3] His transfer to Sheffield Wednesday was part of a double swoop for the Sheffield club, who paid Mexborough Town £70 up front for Bradley and Laurie Burkinshaw,[6] with a promise of a further £60 the following season if the pair went on to do well.[4]

Personal life

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Martin's son, Jack (1916–2002)[2] played at inside forward for various clubs in the 1930s and 1940s, including Swindon Town, Southampton and Bolton Wanderers.[7] His brother was James Bradley (1881–1954), who was a member of Liverpool's Championship winning side of 1905–06 and also played for Stoke in the 1890s.[7]

In the First World War he served with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and following the war with the Royal Army Service Corps, until returning to South Kirkby to work in the colliery.

References

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  1. ^ "South Kirkby Colliery (Almost) Complete History". Matthew Thomas. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Colliery Forward for Huddersfield Town". Hull Daily Mail. 25 November 1935. p. 9.
  3. ^ a b Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 33. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  4. ^ a b "Captures from the Don Valley". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 14 April 1910. p. 12.
  5. ^ "Bristol Rovers New Man". Western Daily Press. 30 May 1911. p. 5.
  6. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday". Athletic News. 29 August 1910. p. 6.
  7. ^ a b Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (2003). In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. Hagiology Publishing. pp. 487–488. ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.