James Bradley

Stoke

Born in Goldenhill, Stoke-upon-Trent, and joined Stoke from amateur side Goldenhill Wanderers as a 16-year-old in February 1898. Weighing 11 st (70 kg) and standing at 6 ft (1.83 m) Bradley played at wing half and oozed class. The Sentinel described him as having an old head on young shoulders with "a fine turn of speed who tackles with excellent judgement". As a consequence of Alex Raisbeck's transfer to Liverpool, Bradley found himself part of a youthful, hard working half-back line featuring 23-year-old Alf Wood and fellow teenager Edward Parsons and in the first season of this trio Stoke reached their first FA Cup semi-final losing out 3–1 to Derby County. Following the departure of Parsons and Wood in 1900–01, 23-year-old Bradley found himself as the most experienced midfielder at the club. Now partnered by Tom Holford and George Baddeley this new half-back line helped keep Stoke in the First Division for five more years. The press described Bradley as 'a model of consistency' but he was also a skilful player who became one of the first to use tricks. He would swing hard at the ball with his right foot and dummy the player facing him by kicking the ball with the outside of his left. Despite the quality of their midfield, year after year Stoke narrowly clung on to their top-flight status. Improvements to the Victoria Ground in 1903 cost £2,000 swallowing the club's already dwindling finances and so the board agreed to sell their best players with Bradley…

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His brother, Martin (1886–1958) played at inside forward for Grimsby Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol Rovers between 1907 and 1914. Martin's son Jack (1916–2002) played at inside forward for various clubs in the 1930s and 1940s, including Swindon Town, Southampton and Bolton Wanderers.

Liverpool Football League First Division champion: 1905–06 Stoke Southern League Division Two champion: 1914–15