John Bradford (1887 – 1973) was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper, mainly for Morton and St Mirren.
Career The first part of Bradford's senior career was spent with Morton, where he was an important member of the Greenock club's strong team in the era spanning World War I when they finished in the top four of the Scottish Football League table for six consecutive seasons, and won the War Fund Shield in 1915.Football: War Shield Final, Glasgow Herald, 29 April 1915 However, he was called up for military service with the Highland Light Infantry and lost his place to the younger Dave Edwards in 1919 and spent time with Bo'ness (then playing in the Central League) before he was picked up by Morton's local rivals, St Mirren as a possible replacement for Willie O'Hagan.
He went on to have an equally successful time with the Paisley club, culminating in them winning the Scottish Cup for the first time in their history in 1926, Bradford lifting the trophy as captain.On This Day, The Herald, 23 January 1999St Mirren's Victory | Celtic Lose Scottish Cup at Hampden, The Glasgow Herald, 12 April 1926Scottish Cup Winners 1926, StMirren.info He left St Mirren abruptly in early 1927 after a dispute over absences, switching to Raith Rovers, and then had a spell with Dumbarton.John Bradford Player Profile, Sons Archive
Bradford played in the Home Scots v Anglo-Scots annual trial match in 1912Football. Anglo-Scots, 4; Home Scots, 1., The Glasgow Herald, 12 March 1912 and was selected for the Scottish Football League XI later the same year, but never gained a full international cap.Bradford John "Jock" Image 2 St Mirren 1922, Vintage Footballers He was inducted into St Mirren's 'Hall of Fame' in 2011,Jock Bradford, Cairters CornerHero goalkeeper is inducted into St Mirren Hall of Fame, Daily Record, 2 March 2011 and was nominated for the Morton equivalent in 2017 though not added on that occasion.Class of 2017 inducted into Hall of Fame tonight, Greenock Morton FC, 1 December 2017
See also List of footballers in Scotland by number of league appearances (500+)
References