Bratley: George William (George)

WW2 Guest: 1941-1942 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Centre Half

Born: Rotherham: 17-01-1909

Debut: v Gateshead (a): 13-09-1941

Height & Weight: Unknown

Bratley started his career with Rotherham YMCA before signing professional for his native club, Rotherham United then of the Third Division North, on 23rd April 1929. Even though just twenty he soon established himself as solid centre-half in the first team and played three F.A. Cup ties as well as eighty-five League games and scored eleven goals before joining First Division Sheffield Wednesday in February 1933. Rotherham were paid a substantial fee and given Victor Wright in part-exchange. But, after just three games in the 1932-33 season, he returned to Rotherham in January 1934. After his return he scored three times in fourteen games at Inside Left as the Millers were forced to seek re-election. He dropped out of League Football as he joined Gainsborough Trinity, in August 1934, and Bath City, in July 1935, but returned to League football with Third Division North Barrow as a Full Back in August 1936, for the start of the 1936-37 season. He had two good seasons with them before the club had to apply for re-election. He scored nine goals, six of which were penalties, in eighty-two League games and also played twice in F.A. Cup ties. He moved to Third Division South Swindon Town in 1938, but did not play for their first team, and then dropped into Non-League football with Tunbridge Wells Rangers. During the War years he guested with Leeds United and played two games in the 1941-42 season. The first was at Centre-Half at Gateshead in a 2-3 defeat on 13th September 1941 in the Football League Northern Section (First Championship) and the second at Right-Half in the 1-5 defeat by Huddersfield Town in the Leeds Road game in Second Championship fixture in April 1942. Prior to guesting for Leeds United he had played twelve games for Hull City in 1940-41 season, when he scored one goal. He later guested with Crystal Palace in for two games in 1942-43, Halifax Town, once in 1943-44 and Oldham Athletic eleven times in the same season before making fourteen appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion in 1944-45. He died in 1978.