Sophie Bradley

Sophie Bradley

Bradley in September 2010
Personal information
Full nameSophie Elizabeth Bradley[1]
Date of birth20 October 1989
Place of birthNottingham, England
Height1.69 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in)[2]
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current team
Notts County
Number5
Youth career
–2005Nottingham Forest
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2005–2006Nottingham Forest
2006–2010Leeds United
2010–Notts County24(0)
2011→ Nottingham Forest (loan)
National team‡
2010–England26(0)
2012–Great Britain4(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 August 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:38, 26 February 2014 (UTC)

Sophie Elizabeth Bradley (born 20 October 1989) is an English international football defender. Bradley plays in a centre back position for FA WSL club Notts County. She previously played for her local club Nottingham Forest, moving to Leeds United in 2006.

Bradley has played for England on over 20 occasions since her debut against Austria in August 2010, including appearances at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She also featured in the Great Britain squad at the 2012 London Olympics.

Club career

Bradley began her career at Nottingham Forest, before joining Leeds United in 2006.[3] She became a regular in her first season and helped Leeds to the FA Women's Premier League Cup final in March 2007.[4] Bradley, aged 17, was named Player of the Match in Leeds' 1–0 defeat by Arsenal at Glanford Park.[5] In 2007–08 Leeds reached the FA Women's Cup final, played in Bradley's home town of Nottingham.[6] The Whites were beaten 4–1 by Arsenal.[7]

Bradley progressed to captain Leeds to their 2010 Premier League Cup win over Everton,[8] having scored in the semi-final win over Chelsea.[9] In August 2010 Bradley signed a contract with FA WSL club Lincoln Ladies.[10][11] She was instrumental in persuading several Leeds team mates to join her at Lincoln.[12] At the end of the 2011 WSL season she returned to Nottingham Forest on loan.[13]

International career

England

Bradley represented England at youth level and captained the Under–19s.[3] She made her senior debut in August 2010, against Austria, as a half-time substitute for Faye White.[14]

Bradley was named to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup squad, and appeared as a late substitute for White in the 1–1 draw with Mexico[15] and the 2–1 win over New Zealand.[16] She started the final group match with Japan, playing the full 90 minutes of England's 2–0 win.[17] With Faye White restored to the lineup, Bradley was an unused substitute as England were eliminated by France at the quarter final stage.[18]

Great Britain Olympic

In June 2012 Bradley was named in the 18–player Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.[19] She was drafted into the starting line up when Ifeoma Dieke was injured, playing alongside Lincoln team mate Casey Stoney in Team GB's 1–0 win over Brazil before 70,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium.[20]

Personal life

In 2007 Bradley won a scholarship to the Football Association development centre at Loughborough University, through the government Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme.[21] In August 2008 the British Olympic Association took 152 young athletes including Bradley to the Olympic Games in Beijing.[22]

Although paid by Lincoln and possessing an England central contract worth £16,000 per year, Bradley maintained her part–time job in the care home owned by her family while playing in the WSL.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/10/2009 and 31 October 2009". The Football Association. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  2. ↑ "List of Players". FIFA. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Sophie Bradley". Leeds Carnegie Ladies. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  4. ↑ Mawhinney, Stuart (2 March 2007). "Bradley wants flying start". TheFA.com. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  5. ↑ "Ludlow levels Leeds". TheFA.com. 4 March 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  6. ↑ Mawhinney, Stuart (28 April 2008). "Bradley can't wait". TheFA.com. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  7. ↑ Aikman, Richard (5 May 2008). "Arsenal 4–1 Leeds United". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  8. ↑ Lavery, Glenn (12 February 2010). "'Overwhelmed' White lauds Final effort". TheFA.com. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  9. ↑ Leighton, Tony (13 December 2009). "Leeds Ladies beat Chelsea 2–0 to reach League Cup final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  10. ↑ Brenchley, David. "Double is major coup for Lady Imps". Give me football. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  11. ↑ "England duo Clarke and Bradley join Lincoln Ladies". BBC Sport. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  12. ↑ "Lady Imps club captain may not lead the team out for Super League debut". Lincolnshire Echo. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  13. ↑ "Powell reveals squad for Dutch test". www.thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  14. ↑ Leighton, Tony (21 August 2010). "Kelly Smith goals help England to 4–0 win over Austria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  15. ↑ Adderley, Nigel (30 June 2011). "England striker Eniola Aluko affected by Twitter abuse". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  16. ↑ Rostance, Tom (1 July 2011). "Women's World Cup: New Zealand 1–2 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  17. ↑ Stevenson, Jonathan (5 July 2011). "Women's World Cup: England 2–0 Japan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  18. ↑ Bevan, Chris (9 July 2011). "Women's World Cup: England 1–1 France (France win 4–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  19. ↑ "Team GB women's squad for London 2012 announced". BBC Sport. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  20. ↑ Williamson, Laura (30 July 2012). "Hope's winning stars say hello to Wembley as hungry Brazil come calling in London". Daily Mail. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  21. ↑ "FA Selects TASS athletes". TASS.gov.uk. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  22. ↑ Davis, Matthew (17 September 2008). "Bradley backs boys to be a hit in 2012". Morethanthegames.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  23. ↑ Leighton, Tony (11 April 2011). "A week in the life of Sophie Bradley of the FA Women's Super League". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2011.

External links