Bradley: William (Bill)

1915-1916 (Leeds City War-time Guest Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Wardley, Leicestershire: 01-03-1883

Debut: v Derby County (a): 04-09-1915

Height & Weight: Unknown

After playing his early career in the North East with Dunston Wednesday, Fatfield Albion, and Jarrow Caledonians, Bradley went south to Portsmouth, who were then a Non-League club, before returning to the North East with Jarrow. He got his break through when he was signed on professional forms by Newcastle United on 1st April 1914. He had not played for the first team before the club went into mothballs for the duration of WW1. He tried his luck with Gainsborough Trinity, but when there was a goalkeeping vacancy he moved to Elland Roadwhere he guested for Leeds City in the 1915-16 season when the Leeds regular goalkeeper, Willis Walker, was on Royal Navy service, but was required only for part of the season until he was able to play while on leave. This saw Bradley make his debut for Leeds in the Midland Section of the War-time League. He made his debut In City's opening game of the season on 4th September 1915 in a 3-1 away win at Derby County. He made a good debut with the two local papers full of his praises. The Yorkshire Evening Post reporting that he "distinguished himself with several brilliant saves". The following week, when City beat The Wednesday 2-1 at Elland Road, the Leeds Mercury described him as an "alert custodian, who gave " a smart exhibition". He kept his place for eleven of the first twelve games of the season before Willis Walker came back on leave on a more regular basis. He played all of the City games except the 3-1 home win over Hull City on 2nd October 1915, when Walker was on leave. On the return of Walker he was surplus to requirements and was without a club until peace was restored. He did not make his debut for Newcastle United until 1919-1920, the season after the War had ceased, when he made twenty-one appearances. He was not always the regular keeper but managed to amass one hundred and thirty-three League appearances and a further ten in the FA Cup, including an appearance in the 1924 FA Cup Final in which he played a blinder as a late replacement for Alex Mutch in Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa. He left St James’ Park for Third Division North side Ashington on 1st May 1927. He made thirty-six League appearances for them together with one F.A. Cup appearance before leaving for Non-League North Shields after Ashington did not gain re-election at the end of the 1928-1929 season.