FA CUP BRINGS MORE COINCIDENCES

A year or so ago, the master of Hatfield College at Durham University and I were mulling over a glass of expensive red during a dinner at the College, when he mentioned Warren Bradley and old boy of the college, and I wrote his name down so I would look him up later.

I had written down his name, but lost the reference until recently and having done nothing about the link, was sparked into action today when on Talksport the presenters were reviewing the non league clubs remaining in the FA Cup 2nd Round,  listing the "great players" who had been through the Northwich Victoria club. 

It's worth having a look on the club's website to see the players who have graced their pitch:-

Stuart Pearce, Gordon Hill, Sammy McILroy, Peter Barnes, Alan Kennedy, Bruce Grobbelaar, David Bardsley, Max Woosnam and Billy Meredith. Know anything about these last two? You will tomorrow.

Compared to these men, Warren Bradley would not be regarded as a great, but as an old boy of Hyde Grammar School, he played county schools' football, he did his university degree and played for Durham City in 1954, probably getting a bit of boot money to tide him over

In 1955 he joined the very successful Bishop Auckland FC winning the FA Amatuer Cup with them, and was signed by Matt Busby in 1958 for Manchester United, when the Scot was rebuilding his club after Munich. Bradley played for the reserves mainly but after four years at Old Trafford, he turned out 63 times for the club, as a part time professional. He was also teaching locally.

In 1959 he was picked by Walter Winterbottom for the English Full international side three times and had played 11 times for the England Amateur XI. 

Warren's career slowed down after that, going to Bury FC in 1962 and Northwich Victoria in 1963.

He then became a headteacher.