Joseph Bradford (22 January 1901 – 6 September 1980) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward. Born in Peggs Green, near Coalville, Leicestershire, Bradford made nearly 450 appearances for Birmingham in all competitions, scoring 267 goals.[2] He was capped 12 times for England, scoring seven goals,[3] and played five times for a representative Football League XI.[4]

Joe Bradford
Personal information
Full name Joseph Bradford
Date of birth (1901-01-22)22 January 1901
Place of birth Peggs Green, Coalville, England
Date of death 6 September 1980(1980-09-06) (aged 79)
Place of death Birmingham, England
Height 5 ft 9+12 in (1.77 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Coalville Town
Peggs Green Victoria
1920–1935 Birmingham 414 (249)
1935–1936 Bristol City 5 (1)
Total 419 (250)
International career
1923–1930 England 12 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He is Birmingham's all-time leading goalscorer.[5] He topped the club's scoring charts in all but one First Division season between 1921–22 and 1932–33,[6] and if goals in all competitions are counted, he was top scorer in all twelve of those seasons.[7] Bradford also scored Birmingham's only goal of the 1931 FA Cup Final, in which they were beaten by West Bromwich Albion.[2]

After retiring from football he ran a number of pubs in the West Midlands including the White Lion in Muntz St, Birmingham; The Stockland Inn in Erdington and The Vernon Arms in Hanbury. He later owned a sports shop in Sutton Coldfield.

He died in Birmingham aged 79.[2]

Honours

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Birmingham

References

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  1. ^ "Blues" News. The Official Programme of Birmingham Football Club, Ltd. Birmingham F.C. 30 August 1924. p. 3.
  2. ^ a b c Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 74. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  3. ^ "Joe Bradford". Englandstats.com. Retrieved 13 April 2018.  
  4. ^ Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  5. ^ "Birmingham City Football Club history". BBC Birmingham. 5 June 2007. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
  6. ^ "Top League Goalscorers". The Birmingham City FC Archive. Tony Jordan. Archived from the original on 25 October 2004.
  7. ^ "Top Goalscorers". The Birmingham City FC Archive. Tony Jordan. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004.