Bradley began with Goldenhill Wanderers in the Staffordshire mining village where he grew up, progressing to Stoke after a single season. Between 1898 and 1905 he made 199 first division appearances for the Potters. Liverpool had already encountered a less agreeable side of their future recruit: during a match against Stoke on 17 October 1903, Bradley and Liverpool’s Fred Buck were sent off following an altercation. The subsequent disciplinary hearing produced markedly different punishments. Buck received a six-week suspension, while Bradley was banned for a fortnight, as reported by the Sheffield Daily Telegraph on 4 November. His departure from Stoke took an unexpected turn in the summer of 1905. A proposed move to Plymouth Argyle fell through after the Football Association cancelled his registration with the southern club. Instead, he joined Liverpool in September and made his debut against Birmingham at Anfield on the 23rd. He quickly established himself, playing 32 league matches as Liverpool won the championship in their first season back in the First Division.
Bradley was a dependable left-half whose tackling and thoughtful distribution made him an important member of Liverpool’s 1906 championship side. Contemporary assessments particularly admired his ability to supply the forwards with accurate passes along the ground. Writing on 6 November 1905, Athletic News credited him with helping Liverpool’s left-wing partnership of Jack Cox and Sam Raybould flourish. Bradley drew opponents towards him before releasing the ball, giving the men ahead of him room to work. Within weeks of his arrival, his football had made him a favourite with the Anfield crowd. Bradley’s value extended well beyond that successful introduction. Across the following four seasons he missed only 18 league fixtures, providing continuity on the left of the half-back line. The club programme’s assessment in February 1908 emphasised both his understanding of the position and the quality of his service to the attack: "Bradley possesses a splendid idea of the requirements of a successful half back, and the forwards in front of him cannot complain of the accurate attention. He believes in keeping the ball on the turf, and his clever tackling is only equalled by the skilful manner in which he places to his front rank," noted the scribes at the club programme.
Bradley's most unusual contribution came on Christmas Day 1909, when Liverpool needed an emergency goalkeeper against Bolton Wanderers. Sam Hardy sent a telegram only an hour before the match reporting that he had injured his hand, leaving Bradley to take over in goal. John McConnell occupied his usual left-half position. In front of 25,000 spectators at Anfield, Bradley kept a clean sheet as goals from Jack Parkinson, Ronald Orr and Arthur Goddard secured a 3–0 victory. It was a memorable departure from his customary duties: one afternoon as Liverpool’s goalkeeper, and no goals conceded. Bradley's long run as a first-team regular finally ended in 1910/11, when he made just four league appearances. He left for Reading in the summer of 1911, having played 186 senior matches and scored eight goals for Liverpool. After two seasons as a regular with Reading, he returned to Stoke in May 1913. Reporting his homecoming, the Evening Telegraph stressed the experience he could bring to a comparatively young team, eight years after his original departure.
Liverpool’s connection with Bradley survived his playing days. At the club’s championship celebrations in 1922, the directors learned that three members of the 1906 title-winning side—Bradley, Alf West and Sam Raybould—were experiencing hardship during the trade depression. The board unanimously approved a payment of £50 to each man. The Liverpool Echo reported the gesture on 13 July, recording a practical act of support for players who had helped bring an earlier championship to Anfield.
