December 30, 1899
Sorry am I am to hear of the death of Harry Bradshaw, the well-known footballer. A local paper, by the way, said he was “well-known,” although, judging from the brevity of its biography, the knowledge was not in that office.
Bradshaw was a Liverpool lad, bred and born. He served his football apprenticeship with Lansdowne, a local team; completed his education with Northwich Victoria, and then returned to Liverpool, and for five seasons played outside left for the Anfield-road League team.
They have never had his superior in the position. Rather undersized, he was sturdily built, and, like Holt and Needham, was standing proof how true it often is that the best things are made up in small packets.
From Liverpool, Bradshaw went to join Tottenham Hotspur with the then Liverpool secretary, Frank Brettell, who had been invited to take the direction of the “Spurs.”
He – Bradshaw I mean – was last playing for Thames Ironworks.
A rolling stone, Bradshaw gathered no moss, and he has, I believe, left a widow and family in rather needy circumstances.
The cause of his death I have not stated, I would not be surprised if it was traced back to a kick which he received when playing in a cup tie for Liverpool – a kick behind the ear.
The membrane of the cap appear to have been permanently damaged; cancer supervened, and gradually ate its way to the brain.
Poor Bradshaw was a first class cricketer as well as an international footballer. When living in Liverpool he showed excellent form with bat and ball – he could throw a ball further than any man I have ever seen.
While playing football for Thames Ironworks, he was qualifying as a county cricketer by residence in Essex, and death has deprived them of one who, I feel sure, would have been a valuable recruit.
(Lancashire Evening Post: December 30, 1899)
Harry Bradshaw, Thames Ironworks (Illustrated Police Budget: November 11, 1899):
"Play Up, Liverpool" 