Sophie Bradley-Auckland

Sophie Elizabeth Bradley-Auckland (born 20 October 1989) is an English former international football defender who played for Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Lincoln Ladies, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Liverpool, and, Sheffield United.

Sophie Bradley-Auckland
Bradley-Auckland in September 2019
Personal information
Full name Sophie Elizabeth Bradley-Auckland[1]
Birth name Sophie Elizabeth Bradley[2]
Date of birth (1989-10-20) 20 October 1989
Place of birth Nottingham, England
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 6+1⁄2 in)[3]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Gedling Town
Nottingham Forest
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Nottingham Forest
2006–2010 Leeds United
2010–2017 Lincoln Ladies/Notts County 45 (0)
2011 → Nottingham Forest (loan)
2017–2018 Doncaster Rovers Belles 11 (1)
2018–2020 Liverpool 34 (1)
2021–2022 Sheffield United 18 (1)
International career‡
2010–2014 England 28 (0)
2012 Great Britain 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 February 2016

Bradley has played for England on over 25 occasions since her debut against Austria in August 2010, including appearances at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She also featured in the Great Britain squad at the 2012 London Olympics.

Club career
Bradley in 2010

Bradley began her career at Nottingham Forest, before joining Leeds United in 2006.[4] She became a regular in her first season and helped Leeds to the FA Women's Premier League Cup final in March 2007.[5] Bradley, aged 17, was named Player of the Match in Leeds' 1–0 defeat by Arsenal at Glanford Park.[6] In 2007–08 Leeds reached the FA Women's Cup final, played in Bradley's home town of Nottingham.[7] The Whites were beaten 4–1 by Arsenal.[8]

Bradley progressed to captain Leeds to their 2010 Premier League Cup win over Everton,[9] having scored in the semi-final win over Chelsea.[10] In August 2010 Bradley signed a contract with FA WSL club Lincoln Ladies.[11][12] She was instrumental in persuading several Leeds teammates to join her at Lincoln.[13] At the end of the 2011 WSL season she returned to Nottingham Forest on loan.[14]

Ahead of the 2014 FA WSL season, Lincoln moved to Nottingham and reconstituted as Notts County Ladies. Bradley remained with the club but suffered a severe knee injury in a July 2014 match against Yeovil Town, which caused her to miss the entire 2015 season, including the 2015 FA Women's Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, which County lost 1–0 to Chelsea.[15]

Bradley returned to pre-season training for the 2016 FA WSL after a 19-month injury lay-off and undergoing three operations on her knee and ankle.[16] After failing to regain her fitness, she was released by Notts County on the expiry of her contract in January 2017. In September 2017, Bradley signed for Doncaster Rovers Belles ahead of their 2017–18 FA WSL 2 campaign.[17]

International career

England

Bradley represented England at youth level and captained the Under–19s.[4] She made her senior debut in August 2010, against Austria, as a half-time substitute for Faye White.[18]

Bradley was named to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup squad, and appeared as a late substitute for White in the 1–1 draw with Mexico[19] and the 2–1 win over New Zealand.[20] She started the final group match with Japan, playing the full 90 minutes of England's 2–0 win.[21] With Faye White restored to the lineup, Bradley was an unused substitute as England were eliminated by France at the quarter-final stage.[22] Bradley was allotted 176 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.[23][24]

Great Britain Olympic

In June 2012 Bradley was named in the 18–player Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.[25] She was drafted into the starting line up when Ifeoma Dieke was injured, playing alongside Lincoln teammate Casey Stoney in Team GB's 1–0 win over Brazil.[26]

Personal life

In 2007 Bradley won a scholarship to the Football Association development centre at Loughborough University, through the government Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme.[27] In August 2008 the British Olympic Association took 152 young athletes including Bradley to the Olympic Games in Beijing.[28]

Although paid by Lincoln and possessing an England central contract worth £16,000 per year, Bradley maintained her part-time job in the care home owned by her family while playing in the WSL.[29]

Honours

Individual

Liverpool Women's Player's Player of the Year: 2019

References
  1. "Sophie Bradley-Auckland". Sporting Champions. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  2. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/10/2009 and 31 October 2009" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  3. "List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  4. "Sophie Bradley". Leeds Carnegie Ladies. Archived from the original on 15 March 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  5. Mawhinney, Stuart (2 March 2007). "Bradley wants flying start". TheFA.com. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  6. "Ludlow levels Leeds". TheFA.com. 4 March 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  7. Mawhinney, Stuart (28 April 2008). "Bradley can't wait". TheFA.com. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  8. Aikman, Richard (5 May 2008). "Arsenal 4–1 Leeds United". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  9. Lavery, Glenn (12 February 2010). "'Overwhelmed' White lauds Final effort". TheFA.com. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  10. Leighton, Tony (13 December 2009). "Leeds Ladies beat Chelsea 2–0 to reach League Cup final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  11. Brenchley, David. "Double is major coup for Lady Imps". Give me football. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  12. "England duo Clarke and Bradley join Lincoln Ladies". BBC Sport. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  13. "Lady Imps club captain may not lead the team out for Super League debut". Lincolnshire Echo. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  14. "Powell reveals squad for Dutch test". thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  15. Aloia, Andrew (18 January 2016). "Sophie Bradley: Returning after World Cup and FA Cup heartache". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  16. "Bradley returns after injury nightmare". BBC Sport. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  17. Frith, Wilf (15 September 2017). "Belles Bring in Bradley-Auckland". She Kicks. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  18. Leighton, Tony (21 August 2010). "Kelly Smith goals help England to 4–0 win over Austria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  19. Adderley, Nigel (30 June 2011). "England striker Eniola Aluko affected by Twitter abuse". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  20. Rostance, Tom (1 July 2011). "Women's World Cup: New Zealand 1–2 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  21. Stevenson, Jonathan (5 July 2011). "Women's World Cup: England 2–0 Japan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  22. Bevan, Chris (9 July 2011). "Women's World Cup: England 1–1 France (France win 4–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  23. "England squad named for World Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  24. Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  25. "Team GB women's squad for London 2012 announced". BBC Sport. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  26. "Great Britain vs. Brazil – 31 July 2012 – Women Soccerway".
  27. "FA Selects TASS athletes". TASS.gov.uk. 3 November 2008. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  28. Davis, Matthew (17 September 2008). "Bradley backs boys to be a hit in 2012". Morethanthegames.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  29. Leighton, Tony (11 April 2011). "A week in the life of Sophie Bradley of the FA Women's Super League". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
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