Les Bradd
Striker · Notts County · England
About Les Bradd
Les Bradd is Notts County’s all-time leading goalscorer, netting 137 goals in all competitions during an eleven-season spell from 1967 to 1978. A durable, clinical striker, he helped fire the club from the Fourth Division to the Second Division under Jimmy Sirrel, and went on to score 182 league goals across a career that also took in Rotherham United, Stockport County, Wigan Athletic and Bristol Rovers before retiring in 1983.
Les Bradd's story
Early Life
Leslie John Bradd was born on 5 November 1947 in Buxton (ENG), Derbyshire, and became the first professional footballer to emerge from the Buxton (ENG) area. Growing up in a modest household, he honed his skills in local parks with ambitions split between a career in the police or professional sport.
Rotherham United (1966–1967)
Bradd signed for Rotherham United from non-league East Sterndale in 1966. His time at Millmoor was brief — just three league appearances — but his solitary goal proved to be the winner against Notts County in an August 1967 League Cup tie, the very club he would join two months later for £1,000.
Notts County (1967–1978)
It was at Meadow Lane that Bradd cemented his legend. Arriving as the club languished near the bottom of the Fourth Division, he became the cornerstone of Jimmy Sirrel’s revival alongside captain Don Masson. He finished top scorer in his debut season and drove the club to the Fourth Division title in 1970–71 and promotion to the Second Division in 1972–73. A famous League Cup run in 1975 saw him score twice in a 2–1 replay win over Everton. By 1978 he had scored 137 goals in all competitions — a record that still stands.
Stockport County (1978–1981)
Moving to Edgeley Park at 30, Bradd showed remarkable versatility, often deployed as a centre-back as well as leading the line. He still contributed 31 league goals, including a stunning hat-trick in the final ten minutes to rescue a 4–4 draw against Barnsley after trailing 4–1.
Wigan Athletic & Bristol Rovers (1981–1983)
At 33, Bradd joined Wigan Athletic and immediately proved his worth — 19 league goals helped the Latics to their first-ever promotion from the Fourth Division. He also scored in a 4–2 League Cup upset against Chelsea. A brief loan at Bristol Rovers in late 1982 yielded a goal on his only appearance, but a severe injury forced his retirement in 1983 aged 35.
Life After Football
Bradd remained deeply rooted in the game after hanging up his boots. He served as Commercial Manager for both Notts County and Nottingham Forest, worked as a scout and coach, and wrote a popular column for the ‘Nottingham (ENG) Post’. In 2017 he published his autobiography, ‘Far Post: A Striker’s Tale of Scoring Goals and Breaking Records’. He was inducted into Notts County’s Hall of Fame in 2019 and continues to serve as a Matchday Ambassador at Meadow Lane.
Did you know?
- ⚽ 3 appearances, 1 goal for Rotherham United
- 🏆 Fourth Division champions 1970–71
- ⬆️ Promoted to Second Division 1972–73
- ⚽ 398 league appearances, 125 league goals for Notts County
- 🥇 All-time record scorer: 137 goals in all competitions
- ⚽ 117 league appearances, 31 goals for Stockport County
- 🌟 Hat-trick in final 10 minutes to earn 4–4 draw vs Barnsley
- ⬆️ Helped Wigan (ENG) to first ever Fourth Division promotion (1982)
- ⚽ 63 appearances, 25 goals for Wigan Athletic
- 🏆 Total career: 582 league appearances, 182 goals
- 📚 Autobiography: ‘Far Post’ (2017)
- 🏆 Inducted into Notts County Hall of Fame (2019)
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