Cheltenham Town's former Dundee, Yeovil Town and Halifax Town defender Tom Bradbury's story so far

Tom Bradbury joined Cheltenham Town from Halifax Town in the summer of 2022
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


“Every club I’ve signed for I’ve not been good enough for the level initially, but I’ve managed to adapt.”

Tom Bradbury’s story is one of perseverance, determination and patience. At the age of 26, he has already played at six different levels, overcoming a succession of setbacks along the way.

The left-footed defender has forced his way back into Cheltenham Town’s starting XI and is tasting League Two football for the first time after a summer of uncertainty.

Bradbury grew up near Bicester and was scouted by Oxford United at the age of eight, joining them as a free-scoring left winger and free-kick specialist. He signed for Reading at 11 and was then recommended to MK Dons, who were closer to home, a year later and it was here that he was converted into a centre-back.

“I had a growth spurt and was too tall for my frame so athletically I was not good enough to be getting professional terms,” Bradbury says. “I feel I’ve always been blessed with a good football brain, but at that point I wasn’t up to the demands.”

After leaving MK, Bradbury wrote to National League South club Bishop’s Stortford asking for a pre-season trial. “I did quite well and signed, but I was a skinny 17-year-old and I wasn’t going straight into their team, so I was put on dual registration with Ware, due to a link with our manager. It was the best thing I could have done because it was step four of non-league and I was getting whacked all over the pitch!

"You are up against fully grown men and you can make mistakes, learn and improve. For strikers and centre-halves, non-league is brilliant. In midfield, the ball is just going over your head, but I was winning headers, learning to keep my elbows up so you are not getting one in the jaw and things like that. It was a brilliant schooling; I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Bradbury’s debut was a 5-1 defeat by Aveley, but things quickly improved with a clean sheet against Heybridge Swifts and he had chalked up 35 appearances by the turn of the year. His rapidly improving performances alerted the attention of higher level clubs and he was offered the chance to step up a league with Banbury United, where he spent 18 months under the management of Mike Ford, who is now in charge of Evesham United.

He found himself on the bench at first and his ability was questioned, but a running theme continued as he then broke into the team and began to thrive in the Southern League Premier Division.

“At every club I have joined, I have never been as good as the level, but I’ve managed to adapt. Whether that’s through training hard in the gym, watching videos, or asking questions of coaches, the second or third season I’ve managed to get better than the level I’ve moved up to.”

Bradbury was playing part-time football, but he found himself in a position where he didn’t need another job.

“I always laugh about this, but I have never worked a day in my life because football is a dream job. I decided to give myself two years, until I was 20 and I was lucky because my parents allowed me to live rent free, so it was extra plyometrics sessions in the gym to build power and speed because I’ve never been the quickest and yoga. I gave it my all and thankfully I had enough progression at crucial times.”

Bradbury’s dedication paid off because Scottish Premiership club Dundee spotted him playing for Banbury at Hereford FC and offered him a trial. “I did well in the first game I played and I was invited back to play against Dundee United in a behind-closed-doors friendly and they made me an offer. I snapped their hand off to move up there and it was my first time away from home, living in a flat with another player.

Tom Bradbury signs for Dundee in 2018
Tom Bradbury signs for Dundee in 2018

“I did get homesick at first, but it forced me to grow up, cooking and cleaning for myself and I would fly back home every five weeks for a weekend during the international breaks.”

Neil McCann, the manager who signed Bradbury, was sacked a couple of months into the season, which did not help his chances of breaking into the first team. Bradbury scored on his Challenge Cup debut for Dundee’s Under-20s against Hibernian, also firing the winning penalty in the shoot-out that followed a 2-2 draw at Dens Park, but his senior debut never materialised.

“I felt I had some momentum and I was on the bench away to Celtic, which was definitely an experience. But I never felt they were going to chuck in a 20-year-old because it was a relegation battle, especially when the new manager came in and brought his own players with him – that probably killed my chances.”

Bradbury joined National League North club York City on loan in January, playing under former Newcastle and Everton midfielder Steve Watson.

“I made the four-and-a-half hour drive on the Friday, went straight into the starting line-up the next day and did my hamstring. Being naïve, I played the next two games at 50 per cent and didn’t perform anywhere near well enough and by the time my hamstring was sorted, they were doing well and I couldn’t get back in.”

It was during this time that Bradbury met his now long-term partner Hayley, who is from York. “I fell in love and that was a big moment in my life because I’d had a year in the pro game and it had not quite worked out, but something really nice still came of being up north and we are still together five-and-a-half years later so I wouldn’t change anything.”

After leaving Dundee, Bradbury was offered a trial at Yeovil Town of the National League, with Darren Sarrl the manager. “The club had been relegated from League Two and it was all a bit toxic so there was a massive change,” Bradbury says. “They had five signings and 15 trialists on day one of pre-season and the manager loved runners. I was at the front of the running and performed well in a friendly against Stratford Town.

“I have always managed to do well and raise my game for trials and I remember heading everything and getting into a mental zone, which was a blessing. I signed for them after one week.”

Bradbury’s time at Huish Park began well, establishing himself in the XI and by the middle of December, the left-footed now 21-year-old was being watched by EFL clubs. He then lost his place in the team to the returning club captain after an injury absence and found opportunities hard to come by during the second half of the campaign, before Covid hit.

Yeovil were beaten by Barnet in the play-off eliminator, with Bradbury not featuring. The club triggered an option on his contract, but he was keen for a move closer to his partner. “I was living in a club house in Yeovil and Hayley could get a train to Bristol, which took four hours and I’d drive for an hour to pick her up and we made it work, but I couldn’t do another year of commuting,” he admits.

“I also wasn’t sure if I was guaranteed football, so I spoke to the manager and we agreed a mutual termination of the contract.” Bradbury had performed well for Yeovil in a 2-0 win at Halifax Town that season and their manager Pete Wild made him an offer when he became a free agent.

“I am a believer in God and I prayed for Halifax and ended up getting it,” he says. “Hayley’s house was an hour from the training ground, so we were able to see each other a lot more.”

Tom Bradbury in action for Halifax Town against Dagenham & Redbridge
Tom Bradbury in action for Halifax Town against Dagenham & Redbridge -Credit:Getty Images

Bradbury thrived under Wild’s leadership. “Like at other clubs, even though I played 38 games in my first year I was never the main man, but I came back in the second year and it turned out to be a great season,” he says.

“Pete was a brilliant person and the first manager to put real effort into the person as well as the player, a bit like Darrell Clarke was last season. He had brilliant people around him coaching wise, so he wasn’t taking on too much, but he’d dip his toe in.

“You can never be ‘friends’ with a manager because you have to have that professional respect, but you could go to him and talk about an issue at home, or needing a day off and he’d have players who’d buy into what he wanted. It was also good, attacking football.”

Bradbury played left centre-half in a back four next to club captain Niall Maher and Wild encouraged his team to build play from the goalkeeper.

“The pitch at Halifax is massive so if we got in trouble, we had runners like Billy Waters and we could drop it in and get up the pitch. If teams dropped off, we’d pick them off through the lines. Halifax were not a big hitter, but the gaffer’s recruitment was unbelievable and so many of those boys are now in the EFL, it’s ridiculous.”

Halifax narrowly missed out on the play-offs in Bradbury’s first season, but in 2021/22 they challenged for the title in a division containing Wrexham and Stockport County. “We were top after 23 games and I had interest in me from as early as September.

"We beat Stockport 3-0 at home and I scored and we went on a run of conceding three goals in 11 games. Nobody expected us to be top, so people started coming to watch and I thought I was nailed on for a move in January. It was close with a League One club, but they ended up bringing in a lad on loan from the Championship.”

Bradbury suffered a knee injury late against Chesterfield in the campaign, ruling him out of the play-offs. At 24, he was able to depart on a free transfer in the summer of 2022 and he met Cheltenham manager Michael Duff for talks.

“He put on a presentation, showing how I’d fit into his team and a clip of his back three, who were like synchronised swimmers. In a five-minute clip, the ball would go to the halfway line and they’d all be side on, knees bent to go either way and it really opened my eyes to defending. I thought ‘wow’ and with Duff being a defender himself, I wanted to play for him.”

Bradbury’s move to Cheltenham nearly fell through entirely due to a failed medical, having not fully recovered from the MCL injury. “I remember being in tears on the phone to Gav (Crowe, head of medical), but thankfully he and Micky Moore (director of football) pushed the deal through.”

It was at this point that Bradbury received a call from a number he didn’t recognise. “I didn’t know Will Boyle, but he had got my number from Billy Waters and he called me to say although he was leaving, he’d be happy to offer any advice he could about living in the area and the town. He helped me a lot and what a lovely bloke. I picked his brains and he said great things about the club so I couldn’t wait to get started.”

By a stroke of luck, Bradbury’s aunt and uncle had purchased a property in Winchcombe, linked to their love of horse racing and the Cheltenham Festival, with plans to rent it out. “They did this before they had a clue I was signing for Cheltenham, but we were able to rent it and we’ve never left. The only agreement is that the house is packed for race week. Other than that, we have it to ourselves and we love the area.”

On the pitch, things did not start ideally for Bradbury at his first EFL club as a senior professional. Cheltenham were 5-0 down at half-time to Exeter in the EFL Cup first round on his debut, eventually going down 7-0 in what was Wade Elliott’s third game in charge.

“That was my worst night in football,” he says. “I was skinned for a goal just before half-time, when it went through my legs and from that moment onwards, I was in trouble and the fans were certainly not going to be on my side.”

Bradbury had an injection to help settle down the injury that had niggled on since his time at Halifax and the hard work began once again. “Gav was brilliant, working with me for months and months and after the injection, which I had in Cardiff, I had full mobility again.

“From that period, I started to train well and Lewis Freestone injured his knee at the start of January, so I get chucked in, or I'd have probably left on loan at that point.”

Bradbury made his first League One start for Cheltenham at Morecambe on January 7, 2023. “I was a bit nervous, but we then went to Derby, who were a very good side and I did well against Salford in the Trophy, but we then signed Elkan (Baggott) on loan and Rags (Charlie Raglan) came back after a toe injury, so I was out of the team again.

“But I had built up a confidence in training and felt I’d finally got the respect of my peers, which takes you a long, long way. It didn’t seem such a big thing to put me in and after we took a couple of heavy defeats, Wade gave me a go.”

Bradbury helped Cheltenham enjoy their best run of the season, helped by Alfie May’s goalscoring exploits, but they tightened up defensively. His first goal for the club was a right-footed volley in a 3-0 win at promotion-chasing Peterborough United, when May went on to score two screamers.

“Scoring that volley was amazing and those are the days that make it all worth it and why your dad drives you halfway across the country at 10 years old and things like that.”

Bradbury started the thrilling 2-2 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday and was named man of the match in the 1-1 draw with Ipswich as Cheltenham pulled clear of relegation trouble, but Freestone’s return saw him lose his place again. “Alfie was ridiculous in my time in the team, but our points per game were high and we’d have been mid-table if we’d done that all year, so my view was let’s see how we get on in year two and try to get back into the team.”

Bradbury’s second season with the club fail to score in their first 11 games, although of that run he only started the opening day 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury Town. By the time he featured again in League One, Elliott had been sacked and Clarke put him on as an 18th-minute substitute for the 1-1 draw at home to Derby following an injury to captain Sean Long.

“Darrell came full of self-belief and said he’d keep us up,” Bradbury says. “I believed him from minute one and he was great with people, passionate about his job and so energetic. The goal came against Derby and we then got a win against Cambridge, so he backed up his words with results and everyone bought into it.”

Bradbury was up against Curtis Davies and Freestone for a place in the back three, but he improved his League One appearance tally from 12 in 2022/23 to 22 last term. Cheltenham took their relegation scrap until the final day, when an agonising defeat at Stevenage ended their three-year stay in League One, but Bradbury had the option of another year’s contract triggered by Clarke.

In came Michael Flynn along with 19 new signings and Bradbury had questions raised about his own future, being made available for transfer on more than one occasion. “He’s always been honest with me,” Bradbury says of the new boss. “He has a clear way of playing, which is front foot and aggressive and he outlined that from day one.

"We had a tough pre-season, which he is known for, but it was enjoyable and he’d give you the odd day back at weekends with family and things like that. We’ve had good conversations and he’s been clear on how he wants me to play, so I have fully bought into his project.

"If there was any hesitancy from me it was because I was not used to that style, but my eyes are now open and for example if I want to improve my game, one on one defending on the halfway line is something I need to get better at.”

Bradbury had interest from League Two and National League, but he opted to stay at Cheltenham and do what he always done previously: claw his way back into the team and establish himself again.

“I love playing for this club and I will do anything to get back in the team and through the adversity,” he says. “When the fans started singing my name during the Harrogate game, I must admit I got emotional and if that continues, I’ll be delighted. I am happy on and off the pitch. Hayley has a good job in Cheltenham and we are settled.”

Tom Bradbury after Cheltenham Town's home win over Harrogate Town
Tom Bradbury after Cheltenham Town's home win over Harrogate Town -Credit:Nizaam Jones/CTFC

Bradbury’s Christian faith has been a constant source of comfort during the challenging points of his career. “It’s an unstable career and my story is a prime example of that, in and out of the team, transfer listed, not transfer listed, but my faith keeps me stable.

"I am not too up and down with wins, losses, highs and lows, I am on a steady level with a purpose to believe in that makes my days a lot brighter. I live a better life because of my faith; it makes me happy and to try and be a better person.”

* Cheltenham Town play Fleetwood Town at home in League Two on Saturday (3pm).

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