Geoff Bradford
Born Bristol, July 18, 1927.
Geoff Bradford was the jewel in Bristol Rovers’ crown as the club enjoyed the finest spell of their history in the 1950’s.A product of the city, Bradford was spotted by Rovers playing for Soundwell, a local team, and signed in 1949. His bravery, commitment and eye for goal quickly made him a favourite with the crowd at Eastville and he played an important part in the clubs’ steady improvement on the pitch.
It was in 1953, however, that Bradford really came to prominence, scoring 33 goals as Rovers marched out of Division Three South and in to the second division. By now Bradford was well and truly idolised by the Rovers supporters. He was strong and fearless but also agile in and around the box. Above all he knew where the nets were and was remorseless in pursuit of goals.
The following season, however, a horrific knee injury put him out of the game for six months and seriously threatened his career. The doctors were not convinced that Bradford could fully recover from this injury but the player himself was.
Punishing himself relentlessly to build up the damaged knee, Bradford was fighting fit again for the start of the next season and plundered 27 goals as The Pirates confirmed their status as a good second division outfit.
These were exciting times in Bristol. Not only were Rovers thriving but their neighbours Bristol City were about to join them in Division Two after also winning Division Three South.
And whilst Rovers had Bradford, City had John Atyeo, another raw boned, powerful goalscorer. The Bradford or Atyeo debate might be looked upon as a poor mans’ Finney or Matthews but in Bristol in the 1950’s it was endlessly discussed and irreconcilable. Not surprisingly, opinions on who was better tended to start and end with whose colours a person sported, but it was genuinely a tough call.
As players the pair were extremely similar. Atyeo was bigger and looked more powerful although Bradford was possibly braver and perhaps a little cleverer on the ball. They were both uncomplicated but clinical in front of goal.
With their man fully fit, firing on all cylinders and forging a lethal partnership with Alfie Biggs the Bristol Rovers supporters were unusually optimistic about their prospects for the 1955-56 campaign.
Such confidence was justified. By the end of January the side were heavily involved in the promotion race and had sensationally dumped Manchester United’s Busby Babes out of the FA Cup.
Bradford slammed home a penalty in this 4-0 drubbing at Eastville and the club looked well set for a place in the first division. Then, however, disaster struck. In a fourth round replay at Doncaster Rovers, Bradford suffered a serious injury to his other knee, a setback that was far more damaging to the clubs’ immediate prospects than the 1-0 defeat they also suffered.
Bradford again ignored concerns over his footballing future and set about regaining fitness. He took grim inspiration from the scar left by his first operation and the knowledge that he had overcome that earlier hurdle. By the end of the season Bradford felt ready to play and made an emotional return to the team for a home game with Stoke City.
A huge crowd turned out for the occassion and Bradford didn’t disappoint. With Rovers trailing 2-1 with only minutes left to play the rampaging forward buried two fierce headers to clinch a 3-2 victory and his own hat trick, his fifth of a ravaged campaign.
The chance of promotion had gone with Bradford’s injury, however, although Rovers finished only four points off the pace at the end of the season. Would the club have managed another couple of victories with Bradford in their ranks during the three months he was absent? It has to be likely.
The club would never have a better chance. Even though Bradford continued to score consistently and the team remained a competent second division side throughout the fifties, by the end of that decade the team was faltering and Bradford played out the twilight of his career back in the third division after relegation in 1962, not always at centre forward.
Bradford ended his career as Rovers all time leading goalscorer, remaining so to this day, and is one of a cluster of players to have scored four goals in a game for the club, achieving this feat against Rotherham United in 1959.
His consistent excellence at Eastville was rewarded by a solitary England cap, being selected for the friendly with Denmark in Copenhagen in 1955. It seems strange to say so in this day and age but the teams’ performance in winning this game 5-1 was generally considered a disappointment and Bradford’s ability to succeed at the highest level questioned, despite the fact that he scored one and was involved in two more of the goals. It is possible Bradford might have been capped again but his second knee injury, which occurred just a few months later, basically put paid to his international hopes.
Bradford’s fantastic service and loyalty, as late as 1961 Bill Shankly was trying to take him to Liverpool without success, was rewarded with a testimonial in 1964.
The opposition for this game was provided by an extremely strong International XI which defeated the Rovers 4-1.
This provided a fitting tribute to a gallant, courageous and talented man although the crowd of just over 12,000 was somewhat disappointing given Bradford’s contribution to the club and the fans.
Geoff Bradford Career Stats
CLUB GAMES GOALS
Bristol Rovers 461 242
England 1 1
Total 463 243