Bradley Robert Sandeman (born 24 February 1970) is an English former footballer who made 249 league and cup appearances in a nine-year career in the Football League.

Bradley Sandeman
Personal information
Full name Bradley Robert Sandeman[1]
Date of birth (1970-02-24) 24 February 1970 (age 54)[1]
Place of birth Northampton, England[1]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Right-back, midfielder
Youth career
1986–1988 Northampton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1991 Northampton Town 58 (3)
1991–1992 Maidstone United 57 (8)
1992–1996 Port Vale 69 (1)
1996–1997 Rotherham United 21 (2)
1997 Hereford United 7 (0)
1997–???? Kettering Town
2000–2001 Leek Town 44 (5)
2001–2002 Hyde United 0 (0)
2002–2004 Witton Albion
2004–2005 Kidsgrove Athletic
2005–200? Dover Athletic
Total 256 (19)
Managerial career
2003 Witton Albion (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

A versatile passer of the ball, he began his career at Northampton Town in 1988. He was sold on to Maidstone United for £10,000 in February 1991, before he was allowed to join Port Vale on a free transfer in July 1992. He helped the club to win promotion out of the Second Division in 1993–94, before he was given a free transfer to Rotherham United in May 1996. He moved on to Hereford United in March 1997 and later had spells with non-League clubs Northwich Victoria, Kettering Town, Leek Town, Hyde United, Kidsgrove Athletic, Witton Albion and Dover Athletic.

Playing career

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Northampton Town

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Sandeman started his career at Northampton Town under the management of Graham Carr in 1986.[3] The "Cobblers" avoided relegation out of the Third Division in 1988–89 only due to their superior goal difference to Southend United. They failed to avoid the drop into the Fourth Division in 1989–90, which led to Carr being sacked and replaced by Theo Foley.

Maidstone United

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Sandeman left the County Ground in February 1991, having been sold on to league rivals Maidstone United for a £10,000 fee; the move reunited him with former boss Graham Carr.[4] The "Stones" finished in the lower half of the table in both 1990–91 and 1991–92. He left the club just months before its collapse.

Port Vale

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He joined Port Vale in July 1992, with manager John Rudge looking to add strength in depth to help with the push for promotion out of the Second Division.[1] He was played at wing-back in 1992–93 until he picked up a thigh injury in February, which required an operation.[1] This caused him to miss both the 1993 Football League Trophy final and the 1993 Second Division play-off final at Wembley.[5] He was used sparingly following his recovery, leaving him to play a limited role in the 1993–94 promotion campaign until he re-gained his first-team spot in May 1994.[1] He was a first-team regular in the First Division in 1994–95, before he fell out of favour once again in July 1995 following the arrival of Andy Hill.[1][4] The 1995–96 season was his last at Vale Park, and was not picked to play in the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup.[5] He was given a free transfer to Rotherham United in May 1996.[1]

Rotherham United

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Originally signed to play at right-back, he was soon pushed further forward into midfield.[6] The "Millers" suffered relegation out of the Second Division in 1996–97 under Danny Bergara. However, Sandeman had left Millmoor for Hereford United in March 1997.

Later career

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He made just seven appearances for the "Bulls",[7] and left the club in the summer after the Edgar Street club were relegated to the Conference under Graham Turner.[3] He spent the first half of the 1997–98 season with Northwich Victoria, before joining Conference rivals Kettering Town in December 1997, who were managed by former teammate Steve Berry.[8] He later combined his duties as a postal worker with playing semi-professional football. He signed with Leek Town in July 2000 and scored seven goals in 55 appearances in the 2000–01 season as the "Blues" were relegated out of the Northern Premier League Premier Division; he was voted as the club's Player of the Season.[9][10][11] He then moved on to Hyde United, but did not make an appearance for the "Tigers".[12][13] He served Witton Albion as caretaker manager in August 2003, winning all four matches.[14][3] He also played 37 games in the 2002–03 season and 26 games in the 2003–04 season.[15][16] He joined Kidsgrove Athletic in July 2004.[17] He signed with Dover Athletic in February 2005 after being recruited by Clive Walker.[18]

Coaching career

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In 2008, he joined Kent League club Tunbridge Wells, becoming assistant manager at the club the following year.[19] He helped the "Wells" to reach the 2013 FA Vase final.[5] He was appointed as a coach at Lordswood in July 2015.[20] He followed manager James Collins to help coach Cray Valley Paper Mills in 2016.[21]

Style of play

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Sandeman was a versatile player and an accomplished and effective passer of the ball and a great and committed tackler.[19]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[22][23]
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Northampton Town 1987–88 Third Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
1988–89 Third Division 22 2 1 0 3 0 26 2
1989–90 Third Division 29 1 2 0 5 0 36 1
1990–91 Fourth Division 5 0 0 0 4 0 9 0
Total 58 3 3 0 12 0 73 3
Maidstone United 1990–91 Fourth Division 20 1 0 0 0 0 20 1
1991–92 Fourth Division 37 7 2 0 4 1 43 8
Total 57 8 2 0 4 1 63 9
Port Vale 1992–93 Second Division 22 1 3 0 4 0 29 1
1993–94 Second Division 9 0 1 0 0 0 10 0
1994–95 First Division 37 0 0 0 4 0 41 0
1995–96 First Division 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
Total 69 1 4 0 9 0 82 1
Rotherham United 1996–97 Second Division 21 2 1 0 2 0 24 2
Hereford United 1996–97 Third Division 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Leek Town 2000–01 Northern Premier League
Premier Division
44 5 4 2 7 0 55 7
Career total 256 19 14 2 34 1 304 22

Managerial statistics

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Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
P W D L Win %
Witton Albion (caretaker) 2003 2003 4 4 0 0 100.0
Total 4 4 0 0 100.0

Honours

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Individual

Port Vale

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 259. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ Rothmans football yearbook, 1997-98. London : Headline. 31 July 1997. ISBN 978-0-7472-7738-5.
  3. ^ a b c "Brad Sandeman Interview (23/06/08) | Tunbridge Wells FC". www.tunbridgewellsfc.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b "The Bradley Sandeman Interview". The Vale Park Beano. 108.
  5. ^ a b c Green, Mike (3 May 2013). "Road to Wembley – Brad Sandeman". Kent Sports News. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Past Players". themillers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 August 2000. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  7. ^ "stats". neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  8. ^ "EXPERIENCED defender Bradley Sandeman has left the Drill Field by mutual agreement". Warrington Guardian. 11 December 1997. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Leek Town Details". www.lusaweb.co.uk. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Information - Leek Town". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Information - Leek Town". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Active summer for movers and shakers". Chester Chronicle. 15 August 2001. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Hyde Football Club: Database". www.hydeunited.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  14. ^ Chronicle, Chester (26 August 2003). "North Ferriby United 1 Witton Albion 3". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  15. ^ "2002-03 PLAYERS RECORDS". www.wittonalbionfc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  16. ^ "2003-04 PLAYERS RECORDS". www.wittonalbionfc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Transfer activity speeds up! - News - Gresley FC Online". www.gresleyfc.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  18. ^ Parmenter, Steve (25 February 2005). "Sandeman Set to Sign and Help Needed – Dover Athletic FC". www.doverathletic.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Player profile – Brad Sandeman". tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  20. ^ "Brad Sandeman joins Lordswood's coaching staff while Deal Town begin search for new reserve team manager | Kentish Football". Kentish Football. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  21. ^ Boyes, Malcolm. "WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCEFL AT THE MOMENT. - News - Crowborough Athletic FC". www.pitchero.com. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  22. ^ Bradley Sandeman at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  23. ^ "PlayerStats - LeekTownSE". leektown.net. Retrieved 11 April 2022.