Eccleshill United are flying in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division so we thought it was time to profile one of their key men.
Eccleshill have won seven on the spin in the league and here’s colossal defender Sam Bradley’s Player Profile.
Name
Sam Bradley
Age
29
Position
Centre Back
Current Club
Eccleshill United
Previous clubs
Leeds United, West Riding County FA, Farsley Celtic and Albion Sports
Day Job
Ventilation – Contracts Manager
Best mate in football
Aran Basi
Team you support
Leeds United
Football Idol
John Terry
Career Highlight
Promotion with Eccleshill (in 2018)…. An unbelievable experience with some amazing lads.
Most Memorable Game
Has to be the NCEL Division One play off final vs Grimsby Borough Eccleshill …. We went through a roller-coaster of emotions that day but in the end came out on top…. Massive Buzz.
Lowest moment in football
Just before we went into the last lockdown…. Didn’t enjoy football and made a few bad decisions.
Biggest regret in football
The easy thing to say would be maybe try harder when I was at Leeds United Academy but in all honesty, I have no regrets…. Happily enjoying life and every aspect of my football career right now.
Funniest moment in football
Few questionable initiation songs this season which were brilliant and always laughs when Luke Harrop was about.
First semi-professional manager
Kully Sandhu was my first semi pro manager and the first one to believe in me at this level. When you have ex professional Delroy Facey sweeping up behind you can’t do much wrong to be honest.
Nothing but love for Kully who I can only admire for how long he was in the game and the success he enjoyed.
Have to put a shout out to Sean Regan and my current manager Lee Elam. Two different types on managers but both have had full faith in me, helped me improve & thoroughly enjoy playing for them.
Non League Debut
First non-league season I started off as a defensive… a very defensive right wing back / right back…. Back when I could run just about…. Just remember wanting to keep it simple & stick to the basics (not much has changed).
First Red Card in Non League
Never had a Red Card….. Tidy Centre Half!
First and Best Non League Goal
Not too sure on how the ball went in but I believe my first goal was for Albion Sports against Athersley Away. As far as most notable goals I’ve scored… I remember one of my first games for Eccleshill getting a double with my second goal a thumping header in the 90th minute to win the game vs Yorkshire Amateur… that was a special goal.
What do you want to achieve in football in the future?
I’ve always been one of them lads who takes it game by game and not think too much into the future.
But what I will say is this group of players along with Lee Elam, Asif, Jamie & John are special this season.
The camaraderie in the group, the football we are playing & confidence we have I can only see positive things this season.
Personally, I just want to keep those high standards which I think I have set this season, keep chipping in with the goals and help push this club to success.
Favourite Non League Ground
Got to be the Mitton Stadium hasn’t It (Eccleshill United).
If you want to take part in our weekly Player Profile, get in touch via social media, either on Facebook or Twitter.
Take a look at our previous Player Profiles HERE