Gordon Bradley
Encyclopedia
Gordon Bradley was an English-American football (soccer)
midfielder
born and raised on Wearside
who played several seasons with lower division English clubs before moving to play in Canada at the age of 30. During the Canadian off-season, he played and coached in the U.S. based German American Soccer League
. In 1971, he became a player and head coach for the New York Cosmos
. In addition to coaching the Cosmos, he has coached the U.S. national team and at the collegiate and high school levels. Bradley also earned one cap with the U.S. national team
in 1973. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
. He spent his last years out of the public eye, suffering from Alzheimer's disease and spending his last month in a full-care facility in Manassas, Va.
where he turned professional with the local Sunderland
club at age sixteen. However, his career nearly ended just as it was beginning. During a training session, he shattered his right kneecap kicking a ball and it took over two years before he was fit to play again. In 1950, English conscription laws forced Bradley to choose between working in the government coal mines or entering the military when he turned nineteen. Bradley chose to work in the coal mines at Easington Colliery
. In addition to working in the mine, Bradley continued to play football. While he began his career as a forward with Sunderland, the injury slowed Bradley and he moved into defense. Bradley signed with Bradford Park Avenue
in 1955 then in 1957, he moved to Carlisle United where he eventually played 130 games, scoring 3 goals.
for the 1965 season.
of the German American Soccer League
(GASL). In 1965, he moved to the New York Americans, a GASL team, which competed in the International Soccer League
.
(NPSL) and the United Soccer Association
(USA) formed in the United States. Bradley signed with the New York Generals
of the NPSL. The two leagues merged at the end of the season to form the North American Soccer League
(NASL).
for the 1969 NASL season. The Bays folded at the end of the 1969 season and Bradley was not associated with any NASL team for the 1970 season. He returned to the NASL in 1971 when the expansion New York Cosmos
signed Bradley as both its first coach and first player. He both played and coached the Cosmos through the end of the 1975 season when he was fired after a 10-12 season and replaced by Ken Furphy
. Having only played in one game in 1975, Bradley retired from playing professionally.
in a 2-0 loss to Israel
on November 15, 1973.http://national.soccerhall.org/history/MNTAlltime_1960-79.htm At the time, he was serving as the national team coach and ironically, he did not gain his U.S. citizenship until 1974.
of the North American Soccer League
in 1968.
.http://www.stbernards.org/newslet/no14_p14.html
hired Bradley as the team’s first coach. While he took the Cosmos to the 1972 NASL championship, he had two losing seasons in 1974 and 1975 and was fired at the end of the season and replaced by Ken Furphy
. In 1976, the Cosmos fired Furphy after the team began the season 8-6 briefly. Bradley lasted until July 7, 1977 when the team moved him to the front office as Vice President of Player personnel during the season and replaced him as coach with Eddie Firmani
. The Cosmos won the Soccer Bowl in 1977 (2-1 over the Seattle Sounders). In 1978, the Washington Diplomats
hired Bradley as head coach. While the Washington Diplomats folded in 1980, they were replaced that by a new franchise with the same name which played in the American Soccer League
. The new team retained Bradley as coach, but fired him during the preseason and replaced him with Ken Furphy
.
replaced Eugene Chyzowych as national team coach when he suggested the federation should hire a full time coach. USSF called Bradley, who was on vacation, and asked him to coach the team. Bradley coached the U.S. to six straight losses and was dropped as head coach at the end of the year.
hired Bradley as its men’s soccer team head coach. He coached the Patriots for sixteen years until retiring on December 4, 2000. During those sixteen seasons, Bradley compiled a 183-113-35 record. In May 2006, Bradley was inducted into the George Mason Hall of Fame.http://gomason.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/050106aaa.html
, Bradley also served as the team’s Vice President from 1971 to 1977 when he left the team to join the Washington Diplomats. While coaching the Dips, he also served as the team’s Vice President.
In 1996, the National Soccer Hall of Fame
inducted Bradley. The next year, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Hall of Fame also selected Bradley for induction.http://www.enysoccer.com/News/163115.html
's supporter groups, Screaming Eagles, created a banner in Bradley's honor for display at the next home game. He died a few days later.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
born and raised on Wearside
Wearside
Wearside is an area of north east England, centred on the continuous urban area formed by Sunderland, Seaham and other settlements by the River Wear. Mackems is a nickname used for the people of Wearside....
who played several seasons with lower division English clubs before moving to play in Canada at the age of 30. During the Canadian off-season, he played and coached in the U.S. based German American Soccer League
German American Soccer League
The German American Soccer League is the previous name of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, a semi-professional and amateur soccer league which was founded in 1923. The league competes primarily in the New York metropolitan area and northern New Jersey.-History:In 1923, five teams, S.C. New York,...
. In 1971, he became a player and head coach for the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
. In addition to coaching the Cosmos, he has coached the U.S. national team and at the collegiate and high school levels. Bradley also earned one cap with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1973. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
. He spent his last years out of the public eye, suffering from Alzheimer's disease and spending his last month in a full-care facility in Manassas, Va.
England
Bradley grew up in Sunderland, EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he turned professional with the local Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
club at age sixteen. However, his career nearly ended just as it was beginning. During a training session, he shattered his right kneecap kicking a ball and it took over two years before he was fit to play again. In 1950, English conscription laws forced Bradley to choose between working in the government coal mines or entering the military when he turned nineteen. Bradley chose to work in the coal mines at Easington Colliery
Easington Colliery
Easington Colliery is an old coal mining town in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the north of Horden, and a short distance to the east of Easington Village. The town is known for a mining accident or disaster which occurred, on 29 May 1951 when an explosion in the mine resulted in the...
. In addition to working in the mine, Bradley continued to play football. While he began his career as a forward with Sunderland, the injury slowed Bradley and he moved into defense. Bradley signed with Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
in 1955 then in 1957, he moved to Carlisle United where he eventually played 130 games, scoring 3 goals.
Canada
In 1963, Bradley received a phone call from a friend in Canada who told him about a Canadian soccer league. Bradley emigrated to Canada where he signed with Toronto Roma of the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League in 1963. He played the 1963 and 1964 ECPSL seasons with Roma, then moved to Toronto CityToronto City
Toronto City is a former Canadian football team based in Toronto. Between 1961 and 1967, teams using this name competed in both the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League and the United Soccer Association.-ECPSL:...
for the 1965 season.
GASL
While playing in the summer in Canada in 1963 and 1964, Bradley would then move south during the fall and winter to play and coach the New York UkrainiansNew York Ukrainians
New York Ukrainians is an American soccer club based in New York. The club was founded by Ukrainians that had been settled in New York after second world war.-History:...
of the German American Soccer League
German American Soccer League
The German American Soccer League is the previous name of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, a semi-professional and amateur soccer league which was founded in 1923. The league competes primarily in the New York metropolitan area and northern New Jersey.-History:In 1923, five teams, S.C. New York,...
(GASL). In 1965, he moved to the New York Americans, a GASL team, which competed in the International Soccer League
International Soccer League (1960-1965)
The International Soccer League was a U.S. based soccer league which was formed in 1960 and collapsed in 1965. The league, affiliated with the American Soccer League, featured guest teams primarily from Europe and some from Asia, South America, Canada and Mexico.-History:In 1960, William Cox, a...
.
NPSL
In 1967, two new national soccer leagues, the National Professional Soccer LeagueNational Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
(NPSL) and the United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
(USA) formed in the United States. Bradley signed with the New York Generals
New York Generals
For the collegiate baseball team, see New York Generals The New York Generals were a soccer team based out of New York that played in the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League. Their home field was Yankee Stadium...
of the NPSL. The two leagues merged at the end of the season to form the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL).
NASL
Bradley remained with the Generals as they entered the NASL, serving as both player and assistant coach during the 1968 season. The Generals folded at the end of the season and Bradley moved to the Baltimore BaysBaltimore Bays
The first Baltimore Bays were a professional soccer team based out of Baltimore, Maryland. It was one of ten charter members of the National Professional Soccer League in 1967. The team would become a part of the North American Soccer League , which was the result of a merger between the NPSL and...
for the 1969 NASL season. The Bays folded at the end of the 1969 season and Bradley was not associated with any NASL team for the 1970 season. He returned to the NASL in 1971 when the expansion New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
signed Bradley as both its first coach and first player. He both played and coached the Cosmos through the end of the 1975 season when he was fired after a 10-12 season and replaced by Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy is an English former football player and manager.Despite being on the books at Everton between 1950–1951, Furphy was a lower league player with Runcorn Darlington and then Workington...
. Having only played in one game in 1975, Bradley retired from playing professionally.
National team
Bradley earned one cap with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in a 2-0 loss to Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
on November 15, 1973.http://national.soccerhall.org/history/MNTAlltime_1960-79.htm At the time, he was serving as the national team coach and ironically, he did not gain his U.S. citizenship until 1974.
GASL
Bradley gained his start in coaching with the New York Ukrainians of the German-American Soccer League in 1963. He later served as an assistant coach with the New York GeneralsNew York Generals
For the collegiate baseball team, see New York Generals The New York Generals were a soccer team based out of New York that played in the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League. Their home field was Yankee Stadium...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
in 1968.
High school
When the Generals folded, Bradley coached the boys soccer team of Manhattan’s St. Bernard's SchoolSt. Bernard's School
St. Bernard's School, founded in 1904 by Francis Tabor and John Jenkins, is a private all-male elementary school on Manhattan's Upper East Side. St. Bernard's offers motivated young boys of diverse backgrounds an exceptionally thorough, rigorous, and enjoyable introduction to learning and...
.http://www.stbernards.org/newslet/no14_p14.html
NASL
In 1971, the New York CosmosNew York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
hired Bradley as the team’s first coach. While he took the Cosmos to the 1972 NASL championship, he had two losing seasons in 1974 and 1975 and was fired at the end of the season and replaced by Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy is an English former football player and manager.Despite being on the books at Everton between 1950–1951, Furphy was a lower league player with Runcorn Darlington and then Workington...
. In 1976, the Cosmos fired Furphy after the team began the season 8-6 briefly. Bradley lasted until July 7, 1977 when the team moved him to the front office as Vice President of Player personnel during the season and replaced him as coach with Eddie Firmani
Eddie Firmani
Edwin Ronald "Eddie" Firmani is a retired football player and manager. He was born in South Africa but represented Italy internationally.-Playing career:...
. The Cosmos won the Soccer Bowl in 1977 (2-1 over the Seattle Sounders). In 1978, the Washington Diplomats
Washington Diplomats
The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium...
hired Bradley as head coach. While the Washington Diplomats folded in 1980, they were replaced that by a new franchise with the same name which played in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. The new team retained Bradley as coach, but fired him during the preseason and replaced him with Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy is an English former football player and manager.Despite being on the books at Everton between 1950–1951, Furphy was a lower league player with Runcorn Darlington and then Workington...
.
National team
In October 1973, the United States Soccer FederationUnited States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
replaced Eugene Chyzowych as national team coach when he suggested the federation should hire a full time coach. USSF called Bradley, who was on vacation, and asked him to coach the team. Bradley coached the U.S. to six straight losses and was dropped as head coach at the end of the year.
College
In 1985, George Mason UniversityGeorge Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
hired Bradley as its men’s soccer team head coach. He coached the Patriots for sixteen years until retiring on December 4, 2000. During those sixteen seasons, Bradley compiled a 183-113-35 record. In May 2006, Bradley was inducted into the George Mason Hall of Fame.http://gomason.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/050106aaa.html
Soccer administration
In addition to playing and coaching the New York CosmosNew York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
, Bradley also served as the team’s Vice President from 1971 to 1977 when he left the team to join the Washington Diplomats. While coaching the Dips, he also served as the team’s Vice President.
Television broadcaster
Gordon was featured as a television commentator on Home Team Sports during local broadcasts of MLS' DC United games.In 1996, the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
inducted Bradley. The next year, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Hall of Fame also selected Bradley for induction.http://www.enysoccer.com/News/163115.html
Death
Upon hearing of his declining health, one of D.C. UnitedD.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
's supporter groups, Screaming Eagles, created a banner in Bradley's honor for display at the next home game. He died a few days later.