Paddy Bradshaw
Encyclopedia
Paddy Bradshaw is a former Irish
footballer
who played for St James's Gate
and Shelbourne
in the League of Ireland
. Bradshaw was something of a late bloomer, making his League of Ireland debut at the age of 26, before then going onto enjoy a brief but meteoric career during the seasons approaching the Second World War. A month after making his senior league debut, he made his international debut for Ireland and went onto to make 5 appearances and score 4 goals during the 1938-39 international season. He was also the top goalscorer in the League of Ireland for two consecutive seasons, helping St James's Gate
win the league title in 1940.
and from Manchester City
. At the end of the 1937-38 season, at the age of 26, he was at his peak. He played for an Ireland Junior team against a Birmingham
FA XI at Dalymount Park
and scored a hat-trick
in a 4-3 defeat. A week later, he scored again for a Leinster Senior League XI in a 2-2 draw with Motherwell
. The interest in him increased and he eventually signed for St James's Gate
. On his senior debut for the club in August 1938, he scored five goals in a 10-2 win against Limerick
.
The next two seasons saw Bradshaw finish as top goalscorer in the League of Ireland, scoring 22 goals during in 1938-39 and 29 in 1939-40. Bradshaw also had a spell with Shelbourne
and finished as the clubs top league goalscorer with 11 goals during the 1941-42
season.
at Dalymount Park
. Bradshaw opened the scoring after just 20 seconds, the quickest ever goal in the history of the FAI XI, when he blocked an attempted clearance by the Swiss goalkeeper, Huber. Jimmy Dunne
added a second in the 8th minute before then turning provider when his cross was headed in by Bradshaw for the third in the 20th minute. Only an outstanding second-half performance by Huber prevented Bradshaw from scoring a hat-trick. He did, however, help set-up Tommy Donnelly
for Ireland’s fourth goal. On November 13, 1938 Bradshaw won his second international cap as he helped Ireland to a 3-2 win against Poland
, again at Dalymount Park. On March 19, 1939 in a 2-2 draw with Hungary
at the Mardyke
, Bradshaw scored his third international goal. He then went on a European tour with Ireland and played in the teams last two internationals before the Second World War. The first of these was a return game against Hungary on May 18, 1939 which again finished as a 2-2 draw. He made his last appearance and scored his last goal for Ireland on May 23 in a 1-1 draw with Germany
.
In 1939 Bradshaw also played twice for the League of Ireland XI
, helping them to 2-1 victories against an Irish League XI
and a Scottish League XI
. Playing in a team that also included Jimmy Dunne
, Kevin O'Flanagan
and Mick Hoy
, Bradshaw scored in both games. On April 28, 1940 he scored again, while playing for a League of Ireland XI, in a 3-2 defeat against a Scottish League XI at Dalymount Park. This team also included Dunne, John Feenan
and guest player, Johnny Carey
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played for St James's Gate
St James's Gate F.C.
St James's Gate F.C. is an Irish football club that currently plays in the Leinster Senior League. St James Gate was founded as the footballing part of the Guinness Sports and Social club and was named after St. James's Gate Brewery....
and Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
. Bradshaw was something of a late bloomer, making his League of Ireland debut at the age of 26, before then going onto enjoy a brief but meteoric career during the seasons approaching the Second World War. A month after making his senior league debut, he made his international debut for Ireland and went onto to make 5 appearances and score 4 goals during the 1938-39 international season. He was also the top goalscorer in the League of Ireland for two consecutive seasons, helping St James's Gate
St James's Gate F.C.
St James's Gate F.C. is an Irish football club that currently plays in the Leinster Senior League. St James Gate was founded as the footballing part of the Guinness Sports and Social club and was named after St. James's Gate Brewery....
win the league title in 1940.
Club career
Bradshaw was born in a poor part of Dublin and left school at an early age to help supplement his family income, working mainly on the docks. His football talents soon brought him to prominence and proved a help in gaining employment. A hard, tenacious striker with a strong body swerve and great pace, he could beat defenders with ease. Despite this, he turned down offers from several clubs in the League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
and from Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. At the end of the 1937-38 season, at the age of 26, he was at his peak. He played for an Ireland Junior team against a Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
FA XI at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
and scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a 4-3 defeat. A week later, he scored again for a Leinster Senior League XI in a 2-2 draw with Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
. The interest in him increased and he eventually signed for St James's Gate
St James's Gate F.C.
St James's Gate F.C. is an Irish football club that currently plays in the Leinster Senior League. St James Gate was founded as the footballing part of the Guinness Sports and Social club and was named after St. James's Gate Brewery....
. On his senior debut for the club in August 1938, he scored five goals in a 10-2 win against Limerick
Limerick F.C.
Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
.
The next two seasons saw Bradshaw finish as top goalscorer in the League of Ireland, scoring 22 goals during in 1938-39 and 29 in 1939-40. Bradshaw also had a spell with Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
and finished as the clubs top league goalscorer with 11 goals during the 1941-42
Shelbourne F.C. Seasons
The Irish League seasons 1915/16-1918/19 were suspended due to World War I. Shelbourne competed in the Irish League and Irish Cup for the 1920/21 season, but resigned from the league and cup during the season following a dispute with the Irish Football Association....
season.
Irish international
Between 1938 and 1939 Bradshaw made 5 appearances and scored 4 goals for Ireland. He made his international debut on September 18, 1938 in a 4-0 win against SwitzerlandSwitzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
. Bradshaw opened the scoring after just 20 seconds, the quickest ever goal in the history of the FAI XI, when he blocked an attempted clearance by the Swiss goalkeeper, Huber. Jimmy Dunne
Jimmy Dunne
James Dunne , commonly referred to as Jimmy Dunne, was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Sheffield United, Arsenal and Southampton...
added a second in the 8th minute before then turning provider when his cross was headed in by Bradshaw for the third in the 20th minute. Only an outstanding second-half performance by Huber prevented Bradshaw from scoring a hat-trick. He did, however, help set-up Tommy Donnelly
Tommy Donnelly (footballer)
Tommy Donnelly is a former Irish footballer who played for Drumcondra, Shamrock Rovers and Ireland.When Donnelly played as an international there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations...
for Ireland’s fourth goal. On November 13, 1938 Bradshaw won his second international cap as he helped Ireland to a 3-2 win against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
, again at Dalymount Park. On March 19, 1939 in a 2-2 draw with Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
at the Mardyke
Mardyke
The Mardyke is an area in Cork city, on the northern half of the long western part of the island formed by the two channels of the River Lee near the city centre. It comprises several large open spaces...
, Bradshaw scored his third international goal. He then went on a European tour with Ireland and played in the teams last two internationals before the Second World War. The first of these was a return game against Hungary on May 18, 1939 which again finished as a 2-2 draw. He made his last appearance and scored his last goal for Ireland on May 23 in a 1-1 draw with Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
.
In 1939 Bradshaw also played twice for the League of Ireland XI
League of Ireland XI
The League of Ireland XI, known as of 2010 as the Airtricity League XI for sponsorship reasons, is the representative select team for the League of Ireland which operates in the Republic of Ireland.The select first played the Scottish League XI in 1938....
, helping them to 2-1 victories against an Irish League XI
Irish League XI
The Irish League representative team was the representative side of the Irish Football League, the national league for football in Northern Ireland and, prior to that, Ireland.-Irish League representative match results:...
and a Scottish League XI
Scottish League XI
The Scottish League XI is a representative side of the Scottish Football League. The team regularly played against the Football League and other national league select teams between 1892 and 1980. For a long period the annual fixture between the English and Scottish leagues was only second in...
. Playing in a team that also included Jimmy Dunne
Jimmy Dunne
James Dunne , commonly referred to as Jimmy Dunne, was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Shamrock Rovers, Sheffield United, Arsenal and Southampton...
, Kevin O'Flanagan
Kevin O'Flanagan
Kevin Patrick O'Flanagan , also referred to as Dr. Kevin O'Flanagan, is a former Irish sportsman, physician and sports administrator. An outstanding all-rounder, he represented his country at both soccer and rugby union...
and Mick Hoy
Mick Hoy (footballer)
Mick Hoy is a former Irish footballer who played for Glenavon, Dundalk and Ireland. During the 1950s Hoy returned to his local club, Tandragee Rovers, where he worked as a coach with the senior and youth teams.-Irish international:...
, Bradshaw scored in both games. On April 28, 1940 he scored again, while playing for a League of Ireland XI, in a 3-2 defeat against a Scottish League XI at Dalymount Park. This team also included Dunne, John Feenan
John Feenan
John Feenan , also referred to as Johnny Feenan, is a former Northern Irish footballer who played for Belfast Celtic, Sunderland and Shelbourne. As an international he also played for Ireland. In the 1940s he served as manager of Shelbourne...
and guest player, Johnny Carey
Johnny Carey
John Joseph "Johnny" Carey , also known as Jackie Carey, was an Irish footballer and manager. As a player Carey spent most of his career at Manchester United, where he was team captain from 1946 until he retired as a player in 1953...
.
St James's Gate
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 1- 1939–40
- League of Ireland ShieldLeague of Ireland ShieldThe League of Ireland Shield is a defunct Irish football tournament which was introduced when the League of Ireland started in 1921 and ran uninterrupted until 1972...
: 1- 1940-41
- Dublin City CupDublin City CupThe Dublin City Cup is a defunct Irish football tournament which was played for by all League of Ireland sides . It ran from 1933 and ran uninterrupted until 1973. In season 1975/76 it was revived and played for by sides who did not reach the League of Ireland Cup quarter finals...
: 1- 1938-39