Billy Bradshaw (footballer)
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Bradshaw (born April 1884) was an English
football player and manager. Bradshaw played at both professional and international levels as a left half
.
, Bradshaw began his career with Padiham
and Accrington Stanley
. Bradshaw was a left-half, but was extremely adept at joining the attack and was referred to in one report as "being as good as having a sixth forward"; he was also an expert penalty-taker. He signed for Blackburn Rovers
in May 1903 for a fee of £20, and spent 17 years at the club, scoring 36 goals in 386 appearances in the Football League
before leaving in 1920. During his time at the Ewood Park
club, he helped them win the Football League championship in 1912 and 1914.
In April 1920, he was released by Blackburn to became player-manager of Rochdale
, but left that position in September of the same year.
in February 1910, and earned a total of four caps between then and 1913. He also represented the Football League on three occasions.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football player and manager. Bradshaw played at both professional and international levels as a left half
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
.
Club career
Born in PadihamPadiham
Padiham is a small town and civil parish on the River Calder, about west of Burnley and south of Pendle Hill, in Lancashire, England. It is part of the Borough of Burnley but also has its own town council with varied powers.-History:...
, Bradshaw began his career with Padiham
Padiham F.C.
Padiham Football Club are an English football team based in Padiham, Lancashire. As of 2011–12, they play in the Premier Division of the North West Counties League.-History:...
and Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C. (1891)
Accrington Stanley was an English football club based in Accrington, Lancashire. Established in 1891, the club played in the Football League between 1921 and 1962, when the club became only the second ever to resign from the League mid-season. The club went into liquidation in 1966...
. Bradshaw was a left-half, but was extremely adept at joining the attack and was referred to in one report as "being as good as having a sixth forward"; he was also an expert penalty-taker. He signed for Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in May 1903 for a fee of £20, and spent 17 years at the club, scoring 36 goals in 386 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
before leaving in 1920. During his time at the Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
club, he helped them win the Football League championship in 1912 and 1914.
In April 1920, he was released by Blackburn to became player-manager of Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
, but left that position in September of the same year.
International career
Bradshaw made his international debutEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in February 1910, and earned a total of four caps between then and 1913. He also represented the Football League on three occasions.
Honours
Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
- Football League championship: 1911–12 and 1913–14