Les Bradd
Encyclopedia
Les Bradd is a former professional football player. He is notable for being the all time leading goalscorer for Notts County
.
who signed him from non-league club East Sterndale. His spell at Millmoor
was a brief one, in which he only scored one goal which, ironically, was the winning goal against Notts County
, the club with which he is most associated, in a League Cup tie. He joined Notts shortly afterwards.
, barely missing a game as the club climbed steadily away from the lower reaches of the fourth division into a comfortable second division position.
Though the club struggled in his first season, Bradd finished top scorer, with 10 goals. It was the arrival of Don Masson
in 1968 that kick started the club's upturn in fortune over the next decade. The 1970/71 season saw the club win promotion, and the Division Four title, by 9 points. The club finished fourth in its first season back in the Third Division, with Bradd finishing as top scorer with 21 goals. The following season Bradd earned his second promotion with the club as it returned to the Second Division
after a long absence, also reaching the League Cup
quarter finals, a run which saw County beat two top flight clubs, Stoke
and Southampton
, with Bradd scoring in both games.
Although linked to moves to the top flight with Coventry
and WBA
, Bradd spent a further five seasons at the club, which saw County establish themselves as a comfortbale second division side. Bradd finished as top scorer a further two times, in 1975/76 and 1976/77, though the last of these was jointly held with Mick Vinter. During this period the club embarked on another notable League Cup run in 1975/76, again reaching the Quarter Finals and knocking out Sunderland, Leeds and Everton
on the way. The defeat of Everton came in a 2-1 Replay victory at Meadow Lane in which Bradd scored twice in arguably his finest County performance.
Finally in 1978, at the age of 30, after 11 seasons which saw Bradd score 125 league goals, he was sold to Stockport
, despite often being employed as a central defender.
Whilst at Stockport Bradd scored the only hat-trick
of his career when he netted three times in the last ten minutes as Stockport came from 4-1 down to claim a 4-4 draw against promotion chasing Barnsley
. Another highlight from his time at Edgely Park came when he scored against Arsenal
at Highbury
in the League Cup.
Bradd was freed by Stockport at the end of the 1980/81 season.
following his release from Stockport. Despite being 33 years of age, Bradd helped the club, who had only joined the football league three years earlier, to their first ever promotion, scoring nineteen league goals. He also netted yet another memorable game in the League Cup, scoring a goal as Wigan shocked Chelsea
with a 4-2 win.
The following season Bradd made another twenty two third division appearances for Wigan, scroing five times. He also briefly went on loan to Bristol Rovers
, scoring in his only appearance. He retired at the end of the season at the age of thirty five.
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
.
Rotherham United
Bradd started his league career at RotherhamRotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
who signed him from non-league club East Sterndale. His spell at Millmoor
Millmoor
Millmoor is a stadium in Rotherham, England. It was built and was used for football matches, and until the end of the 2007–08 season was the home ground of Rotherham United F.C., until a dispute over ownership forced them to move to the Don Valley Stadium in nearby Sheffield.The stadium was...
was a brief one, in which he only scored one goal which, ironically, was the winning goal against Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, the club with which he is most associated, in a League Cup tie. He joined Notts shortly afterwards.
Notts County
It was at Notts County where his career took shape. Bradd spent eleven seasons at Meadow LaneMeadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
, barely missing a game as the club climbed steadily away from the lower reaches of the fourth division into a comfortable second division position.
Though the club struggled in his first season, Bradd finished top scorer, with 10 goals. It was the arrival of Don Masson
Don Masson
Donald "Don" Sandison Masson is a Scottish former footballer.-Club career:Masson began his career with Middlesbrough in 1964 before going on to Notts County in 1968...
in 1968 that kick started the club's upturn in fortune over the next decade. The 1970/71 season saw the club win promotion, and the Division Four title, by 9 points. The club finished fourth in its first season back in the Third Division, with Bradd finishing as top scorer with 21 goals. The following season Bradd earned his second promotion with the club as it returned to the Second Division
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
after a long absence, also reaching the League Cup
League Cup
In association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...
quarter finals, a run which saw County beat two top flight clubs, Stoke
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, with Bradd scoring in both games.
Although linked to moves to the top flight with Coventry
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and WBA
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, Bradd spent a further five seasons at the club, which saw County establish themselves as a comfortbale second division side. Bradd finished as top scorer a further two times, in 1975/76 and 1976/77, though the last of these was jointly held with Mick Vinter. During this period the club embarked on another notable League Cup run in 1975/76, again reaching the Quarter Finals and knocking out Sunderland, Leeds and Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
on the way. The defeat of Everton came in a 2-1 Replay victory at Meadow Lane in which Bradd scored twice in arguably his finest County performance.
Finally in 1978, at the age of 30, after 11 seasons which saw Bradd score 125 league goals, he was sold to Stockport
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
Stockport County
Stockport's purchase of Bradd proved to be an inspired one as Ladd scored 31 league goals in his three year spell at Edgeley ParkEdgeley Park
Edgeley Park is an association football and rugby union stadium in Stockport, England. The stadium was initially built for the rugby league club Stockport in 1901, but by 1902, the rugby club was defunct and in the same year, Stockport County Football Club, who were looking for a bigger ground,...
, despite often being employed as a central defender.
Whilst at Stockport Bradd scored the only hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
of his career when he netted three times in the last ten minutes as Stockport came from 4-1 down to claim a 4-4 draw against promotion chasing Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
. Another highlight from his time at Edgely Park came when he scored against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
at Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
in the League Cup.
Bradd was freed by Stockport at the end of the 1980/81 season.
Late career
Bradd joined WiganWigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
following his release from Stockport. Despite being 33 years of age, Bradd helped the club, who had only joined the football league three years earlier, to their first ever promotion, scoring nineteen league goals. He also netted yet another memorable game in the League Cup, scoring a goal as Wigan shocked Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
with a 4-2 win.
The following season Bradd made another twenty two third division appearances for Wigan, scroing five times. He also briefly went on loan to Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
, scoring in his only appearance. He retired at the end of the season at the age of thirty five.
External links
- Les Bradd, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database
- Career Profile