Brendan Bradley (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Brendan Bradley | ||
| Date of birth | 7 June 1950 | ||
| Place of birth | Derry, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966–1969 | Derry City | 4 | (1) |
| 1969–1972 | Finn Harps | 79 | (58) |
| 1972–1973 | Lincoln City | 31 | (12) |
| 1973–1978 | Finn Harps | 115 | (82) |
| 1976 | →Toronto Metros-Croatia (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 1978–1979 | Athlone Town | 21 | (6) |
| 1979–1982 | Sligo Rovers | 90 | (44) |
| 1982–1985 | Finn Harps | 74 | (41) |
| 1985–1986 | Derry City | 10 | (4) |
| Total | 425 | (248) | |
| National team | |||
| 1976–1978 | League of Ireland XI | 3 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Brendan Bradley (born 7 June 1950) is a former Irish footballer. He holds the record for the highest number of goals, 235, scored by an individual in the League of Ireland with a club record 181 for Finn Harps
A talented youngster, appearing in the Derry and District League at the age of 15, Bradley signed for Derry City at the age of sixteen. Although a regular in the club's reserve team he only made a handful of first team appearances during his three seasons with the club; his route to the first team being blocked by the form of regular striker Danny Hale.
Despite his limited appearances for Derry, Bradley had impressed Finn Harps manager Patsy McGowan and a fee of £100 secured Bradley's services for the Harps' League of Ireland debut season, 1969–1970. The season saw him score his and the club's first hat-trick in senior football in the away fixture with Athlone Town and his tally of 18 league goals was the highest in the league. The following season once again saw Bradley top the list of leading scorers, this time with 20 league goals whilst the 1971–1972 season saw his goal help Finn Harps secure their first major honour with a 1–0 victory over Cork Hibernians in the Dublin City Cup.
In July 1972, Bradley moved to the Football League with Lincoln City manager David Herd paying £6,000 for his services. He made his league debut for the club in the 1–1 away draw with Darlington on 19 August 1972 His first goals for the club came in his third league game when he netted twice in the 3–0 away victory over Workington on 30 August 1972 and he then scored in the following four league fixtures. He went on to score 11 goals in his first 18 league appearances before Herd left as manager following the 3–1 defeat at Bradford City on 2 December 1972. Although he found the net in the new manager Graham Taylor's first game in charge, a 2–2 draw at Newport County on 16 December 1972, that would prove to be his final goal for the Imps as he failed to score in his final 12 appearances that season.
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