Paul Bradshaw

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Paul Bradshaw
Personal information
Full name Paul William Bradshaw
Date of birth April 28, 1956 (1956-04-28) (age 52)
Place of birth    Altrincham, England
Playing position Goalkeeper
Youth clubs
1972–1973 Blackburn Rovers
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1973–1977
1977–1984
1984
1985–1986
1986–1987
1987–1988
1988–1990
1990–1991
1991–1992
Blackburn Rovers
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Vancouver Whitecaps
West Bromwich Albion
Bristol Rovers
Newport County
West Bromwich Albion
Peterborough United
Kettering Town
078 00(0)
200 00(0)
024 00(0)
008 00(0)
005 00(0)
023 00(0)
006 00(0)
039 00(0)
00- 00 (-)   
National team
1976–1978 England U21 004 00(0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Paul William Bradshaw (born April 28, 1956 in Altrincham) is an English former professional footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.

[edit] Career

Bradshaw began his career as an apprentice at Blackburn Rovers, signing professionally in June 1973. He broke into the first team in the following season, making 18 appearances in Division 3. His most prominent season at Ewood Park came in 1976/77 when he made 41 league appearances, and played in the first ever England Under-21 game, attracting the attention of First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves paid a then-club record £150,000 for the goalkeeper in September 1977. He made his debut on 1 October 1977 in a 3-0 home win over Leicester City and remained the club's first-choice for the next five consecutive seasons.

Bradshaw made 243 appearances for Wolves in total, winning the 1980 League Cup, playing in two FA Cup semi-finals and appearing in European competition. He was voted the club's Player of the Year in both 1981 and 1982.

He lost his place for the 1982/83 season to John Burridge, as the club won promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt. Bradshaw remained to play 10 further First Division games for the side before leaving in August 1984, joining the Vancouver Whitecaps of the NASL.

After the American league folded, Bradshaw returned to England with West Bromwich Albion in February 1985, where he stayed as a back-up player until June 1986 when he took up a coaching role at Walsall. He soon returned to playing though, signing for Bristol Rovers on a non-contract basis, and later played in Newport County's final Football League season.

After a second spell at West Bromwich Albion, he joined Peterborough United where he played a full season. He dropped out of league football at Kettering Town before retiring in 1992.