Noel Bradley Explained

Noel Bradley
Fullname:Noel Bernard Bradley
Birth Date:17 December 1957
Birth Place:County Donegal, Ireland
Position:Full back
Youthclubs1:Manchester Boys Club
Years1:1976–1981
Years2:1980
Years3:1981–1982
Years4:1982–1983
Years5:1983
Years6:1983–1988
Years7:1988–1991
Years8:1991–19??
Clubs1:Manchester City
Clubs2:Bury (loan)
Clubs3:Bury
Clubs4:Chester
Clubs5:Mossley
Clubs6:Witton Albion
Clubs7:Colwyn Bay
Clubs8:Christleton
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Caps2:9
Goals2:0
Caps3:18
Goals3:1
Caps4:28
Goals4:0
Caps5:11
Goals5:0
Managerclubs1:Christleton

Noel Bradley (17 December 1957 – 17 July 2017) was an Irish former footballer who played in the Football League for Bury and Chester. He mainly played as a full back and was well known for his long throw from throw-ins.[1]

Early Life

He was born in Donegal, Ireland on 17 December 1957 to Margaret Bradley (1927-2021) and Bernard Bradley (1918-1983).

At a young age, he moved to England with his 4 siblings (One unborn).

Playing career

Bradley started his career with Manchester City, although he did not join them on full-time terms until he was 21 due to studying for a degree.[1] He did not make any league appearances for City but captained the reserves.[1]

He spent the closing stages of 1979–80 on loan at Bury, who he joined permanently in the summer of 1981. The following summer he moved to Chester, who had just been relegated to the Fourth Division. He was to spend the campaign playing in several different positions, most memorably in goal after Phil Harrington was injured in a 1–0 win at Torquay United near the end of the 1982–83 season, he achieved a score of 10 from the Sunday People newspaper for this very appearance.[1]

Despite his versatility, Bradley was released at the end of the season and joined non-league side Mossley. After just 11 games he moved on after being refused a pay rise[2] and later played for Witton Albion, Colwyn Bay and Chester based side Christleton, where he became player-manager.[3] Away from football he has managed a children's home in Wrexham. Noel Bradley has two children.[1]

Death

Bradley Died on 17th July 2017 from Pancreatic Cancer

He was survived by 5 siblings and his 90 year old mother Margaret (1927-2021)

Notes and References

  1. Player Memories – Noel Bradley, Chester City v. Witton Albion matchday programme, 12 November 1994, p. 15
  2. Web site: Complete A-Z of Mossley players. mossleyweb.com. 2008-05-26. 13 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190913024901/http://www.mossleyweb.com/PlayersAZ/AZB2.htm. dead.
  3. News: Alvin's pep talk does the trick . Wirral Globe . 1998-04-08 . 2008-05-26.