Paul Bradshaw (footballer, born 1956)

Paul William Bradshaw (born 28 April 1956) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Blackburn Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Bristol Rovers, Newport County and Peterborough United, and in the North American Soccer League for the Vancouver Whitecaps.[2]

Paul Bradshaw
Personal information
Full name Paul William Bradshaw
Date of birth (1956-04-28) 28 April 1956
Place of birth Altrincham, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1972–1973 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1973–1977 Blackburn Rovers 78 (0)
1977–1984 Wolverhampton Wanderers 200 (0)
1984 Vancouver Whitecaps 24 (0)
1985–1986 West Bromwich Albion 8 (0)
1986–1987 Bristol Rovers 5 (0)
1987–1988 Newport County 23 (0)
1988–1990 West Bromwich Albion 6 (0)
1990–1991 Peterborough United 39 (0)
1991–1992 Kettering Town
National team
1976–1978 England U21 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Bradshaw was born in Altrincham, and began his career as an apprentice at Blackburn Rovers.[2] He signed professionally in June 1973, and broke into the first team in the following season, making 18 appearances in the Third Division. He came to prominence in the 1976–77 season, when he made 41 league appearances,[3] and played in the first ever England under-21 international match,[4] thus attracting the attention of First Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves paid a club record £150,000 for Bradshaw in September 1977.[5] He made his debut on 1 October 1977 in a 3–0 home win over Leicester City and remained the first-choice goalkeeper for the next five seasons.[3] Bradshaw made 243 appearances for Wolves in total, winning the 1980 League Cup,[6] playing in two FA Cup semi-finals and appearing in European competition.[7][8] He was voted the club's Player of the Year in both 1981 and 1982.

He lost his place to John Burridge for the 1982–83 season, as the club won promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.[9] Bradshaw remained to play 10 more First Division games for the side[10] before leaving in August 1984 to join the Vancouver Whitecaps of the North American Soccer League.[11]

After the American league folded, Bradshaw returned to England. He joined West Bromwich Albion in February 1985 as a back-up player until he took up a coaching role at Walsall in June 1986. He soon returned to playing though, signing for Bristol Rovers on a non-contract basis, and later played in Newport County final season in the Football League. After a second spell at West Bromwich Albion, he played the 1990–91 season with Peterborough United and finished his career in non-league football with Kettering Town before retiring in 1992.[2][12]

References
  1. Rollin, Jack, ed. (1990). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91 (21st ed.). Queen Anne Press. p. 574. ISBN 0-356-17911-7.
  2. "Paul Bradshaw". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  3. "Paul Bradshaw Wolverhampton Wanderers FC". Football Heroes. Sporting Heroes Collections. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  4. Courtney, Barrie (10 January 2004). "England – U-21 International Results 1976–1985 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  5. Harding, John (28 September 2009). "On this day in history: September 28". GiveMeFootball. Professional Footballers'Association. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  6. "Team Details: 1979–1980". Wolves-Stats. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  7. "Team Details: 1978–1979". Wolves-Stats. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  8. "Team Details: 1980–1981". Wolves-Stats. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  9. "General Stats: 1982–1983". Wolves-Stats. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  10. "General Stats: 1983–1984". Wolves-Stats. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  11. "North American Soccer League Players Paul Bradshaw". NASL Jerseys. Dave Morrison. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  12. "Paul Bradshaw's Career". Up The Posh!. Chris Wilkinson. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
  • Paul Bradshaw at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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