Lee Bradbury
Encyclopedia
Lee Michael Bradbury is an English football manager
and former footballer who made more than 500 appearances in the Football League
. Since January 2011, he has been manager of Bournemouth
.
, where he played for three years. A number of impressive performances in the 1996–97
season resulted in interest from a number of clubs, and in July 1997 he was purchased by Manchester City
manager Frank Clark for a club record £3 million. However, Bradbury struggled to make an impact at Maine Road
, resulting in some fans nicknaming him "Lee Badbuy" or, more wittily, "Superfluous R's", and at the end of the 1997–98
season City were relegated, with Bradbury having scored just six goals.
Three months into the following season Bradbury moved to Crystal Palace
for £1.5 million. Less than a year later Bradbury was on the move again, returning to Portsmouth for £300,000 - more than 90% of his transfer value had been wiped off in two short years.
Bradbury's career started to recover at Pompey, making more than 100 appearances in his second spell at the club. However, in the 2002–03
season Bradbury lost his first team place as Portsmouth pushed for the First Division
title. Loan spells at Derby
, Sheffield Wednesday
and Walsall
(where he scored once against former club Derby) followed in the 2003–04
season.
At the end of the 2004–05
season Bradbury was playing for Oxford United
. Bradbury signed a four-month contract with Southend United
on 31 January 2006. He subsequently signed a longer contract.
In August 2007, Bradbury signed for Bournemouth
on a four month loan deal. After playing one game for the club the loan was made permanent, and Bradbury signed a contract until the end of the season.
In the later stages of Bradbury's career, he played in a much different role, being converted into a right back
for Bournemouth during an injury crisis he became the first choice right back for the south coast club, but with the arrival of defender Stephen Purches
, who returned after three seasons away from Bournemouth, Bradbury went back to his former role of striker whilst attacking options were limited.
to Burnley
. He announced his retirement from playing on 16 January 2011, and on 28 January, was given a two and a half year deal as permanent manager of the club.
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
and former footballer who made more than 500 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. Since January 2011, he has been manager of Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
.
Playing career
When he was an army recruit, Bradbury played part time when on leave for Halstead Town under 18 side. Bradbury started his professional career at PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, where he played for three years. A number of impressive performances in the 1996–97
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
season resulted in interest from a number of clubs, and in July 1997 he was purchased by Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
manager Frank Clark for a club record £3 million. However, Bradbury struggled to make an impact at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
, resulting in some fans nicknaming him "Lee Badbuy" or, more wittily, "Superfluous R's", and at the end of the 1997–98
1997-98 in English football
The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
season City were relegated, with Bradbury having scored just six goals.
Three months into the following season Bradbury moved to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
for £1.5 million. Less than a year later Bradbury was on the move again, returning to Portsmouth for £300,000 - more than 90% of his transfer value had been wiped off in two short years.
Bradbury's career started to recover at Pompey, making more than 100 appearances in his second spell at the club. However, in the 2002–03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
season Bradbury lost his first team place as Portsmouth pushed for the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
title. Loan spells at Derby
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
and Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
(where he scored once against former club Derby) followed in the 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
season.
At the end of the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season Bradbury was playing for Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. Bradbury signed a four-month contract with Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
on 31 January 2006. He subsequently signed a longer contract.
In August 2007, Bradbury signed for Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
on a four month loan deal. After playing one game for the club the loan was made permanent, and Bradbury signed a contract until the end of the season.
In the later stages of Bradbury's career, he played in a much different role, being converted into a right back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Bournemouth during an injury crisis he became the first choice right back for the south coast club, but with the arrival of defender Stephen Purches
Stephen Purches
Stephen Robert Purches is an English footballer who plays for Bournemouth.-Club career:Purches is a defender who can play at centre back, midfield or full back on either side. He was previously a trainee at West Ham United but left in 2000 after failing to make a single appearance for the first team...
, who returned after three seasons away from Bournemouth, Bradbury went back to his former role of striker whilst attacking options were limited.
Management career
On 15 January 2011, Bradbury was appointed as caretaker manager after the departure of Eddie HoweEddie Howe
Edward "Eddie" Howe is an English former footballer and manager of Burnley. A defender before retirement who spent much of his career at Bournemouth, he was the youngest manager in the Football League when appointed Bournemouth manager in January 2009.-Playing career:Howe began his professional...
to Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
. He announced his retirement from playing on 16 January 2011, and on 28 January, was given a two and a half year deal as permanent manager of the club.
Managerial statistics
- As of 26 November 2011.
| Team | Nation | From | Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899.... | 15 January 2011 | Present | 50 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 34.00 |
|---|