Paul Bradshaw

Football player infobox
playername = Paul Bradshaw


fullname = Paul William Bradshaw
nickname =
height =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1956|4|28
cityofbirth = Altrincham
countryofbirth = England
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears = 1972–1973
youthclubs = fc|Blackburn Rovers
years = 1973–1977
1977–1984
1984
1985–1986
1986–1987
1987–1988
1988–1990
1990–1991
1991–1992
clubs = fc|Blackburn Rovers
fc|Wolverhampton Wanderers
Vancouver Whitecaps
fc|West Bromwich Albion
fc|Bristol Rovers
afc|Newport County
fc|West Bromwich Albion
fc|Peterborough United
fc|Kettering Town
caps(goals) = 078 00(0)
200 00(0)
024 00(0)
008 00(0)
005 00(0)
023 00(0)
006 00(0)
039 00(0)
00- 00 (-)
nationalyears = 1976–1978
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 004 00(0)

Paul William Bradshaw (born April 28 1956 in Altrincham) is an English former professional footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.

Career

Bradshaw began his career as an apprentice at fc|Blackburn Rovers, signing professionally in June 1973. He broke into the first team in the following season, making 18 appearances in Division 3. His most prominent season at Ewood Park came in 1976/77 when he made 41 league appearances, and played in the first ever England Under-21 game, attracting the attention of First Division fc|Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves paid a then-club record £150,000 for the goalkeeper in September 1977. He made his debut on 1 October 1977 in a 3-0 home win over fc|Leicester City and remained the club's first-choice for the next five consecutive seasons.

Bradshaw made 243 appearances for Wolves in total, winning the 1980 League Cup, playing in two FA Cup semi-finals and appearing in European competition. He was voted the club's Player of the Year in both 1981 and 1982.

He lost his place for the 1982/83 season to John Burridge, as the club won promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt. Bradshaw remained to play 10 further First Division games for the side before leaving in August 1984, joining the Vancouver Whitecaps of the NASL.

After the American league folded, Bradshaw returned to England with fc|West Bromwich Albion in February 1985, where he stayed as a back-up player until June 1986 when he took up a coaching role at fc|Walsall. He soon returned to playing though, signing for fc|Bristol Rovers on a non-contract basis, and later played in afc|Newport County's final Football League season.

After a second spell at fc|West Bromwich Albion, he joined fc|Peterborough United where he played a full season. He dropped out of league football at fc|Kettering Town before retiring in 1992.