Career
Stoke
Born in Goldenhill, Stoke-upon-Trent, and joined Stoke from amateur side Goldenhill Wanderers as a 16-year-old in February 1898. Weighing 11 st (70 kg) and standing at 6 ft (183 m) Bradley played at wing half and oozed class. The Sentinel described him as having an old head on young shoulders with "a fine turn of speed who tackles with excellent judgement".
Following the departure of Parsons and Wood in 1900-1901, 23-year-old Bradley found himself as the most experienced midfielder at the club
Now partnered by Tom Holford and George Baddeley this new half-back line helped keep Stoke in the First Division for five more years. The press described Bradley as "a model of consistency" but he was also a skilful player who became one of the first to use tricks.
He would swing hard at the ball with his right foot and dummy the player facing him by kicking the ball with the outside of his left. Despite the quality of their midfield, year after year Stoke clung onto their top-flight status by their skin of their teeth.
Improvements to the Victoria Ground in 1903 cost £2,000 swallowing the clubs already dwindling finances and so the board agreed to sell their best players with Bradley poised to join Plymouth Argyle in 1905.
But he refused to join the Southern side was instead sold to Liverpool for £420. Liverpool
Bradley, a left half-back, played 31 matches in his first season which saw him gain a championship medal as the Liverpool took the title by 4 points beating Preston into second spot. Bradley had an eventful Christmas Day in 1909, regular goalkeeper Sam Hardy"s absence saw Bradley take on the role, Bolton were the opposition and they had a shock as Bradley kept a clean sheet as Liverpool went on to hit the Netto three times.
Bradley lost his place during the 1910-1911 season and left the club at the end of the season joining Reading in the Southern League.
Return to Stoke
He re-joined Stoke in 1913 who thanks to more financial problems were now playing in the Southern League. He still had the quality to inspire Stoke to the Division Two title in 1914-1915 which saw Stoke regain their Football League status.
He retired at the end of the season and went on to work for the Stoke-on-Trent highways department and for a short time did part-time coaching for Stoke"s reserves before living out the rest of life in Blackpool. Martin"s son Jack (1916–2002) played at inside forward for various clubs in the 1930s and 1940s, including Swindon Town, Southampton and Bolton Wanderers.