Lewis Bradley

Lewis "Lew" Bradley (third ¼ 1889 – 20 June 1918) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Cinderford R.F.C. (in Cinderford, Gloucestershire), Lydney RFC (in Lydney, Gloucestershire) and Pontypool RFC, and club level rugby league (RL) for Wigan (Heritage No. 320), as a wing, i.e. number 2 or 5.

Background

Lewis Bradley was born in Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England, his birth was registered in Westbury-on-Severn district, Gloucestershire, he was the son of John George Bradley and Ann, he lived with his family at The Roebuck public house (now closed and occupied by a residential development called Roebuck Meadows), Forest Road, Ruardean Woodside, Ruardean c. 1901, he worked as a butcher in Pontypool, Wales c. 1911, during World War I he served as a Driver in the Royal Field Artillery regiment in the 410th Battery 96th Brigade unit (Service number 118613), he sustained shrapnel died at the Somme, France in the period between Operation Michael (21 March – 5 April 1918) and the Second Battle of the Somme (21 August – 2 September 1918), he is buried in the Vignacourt British Cemetery (Grave Reference: IV. A. 1.), Somme, France, and he his honoured at the Wigan Cenotaph.

Playing career

Championship Final appearances

Lewis Bradley played right wing, i.e. number 2, and scored a try in Wigan's 5-13 defeat by Huddersfield in the Championship Final during 1911–12 season at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 4 May 1912, in front of a crowd of 15,000, and he played right wing in the 2-29 defeat by Huddersfield in the Championship Final during 1913–13 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 3 May 1913, in front of a crowd of 17,000.

County League appearances

Lewis Bradley played in Wigan's victories in the Lancashire County League during the 1911–12 season, 1912–13 season, 1913–14 season, and 1914–15 season.

County Cup Final appearances

Lewis Bradley played right wing, i.e. number 2, and scored 2-tries in Wigan's 21-5 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1912–13 Lancashire County Cup Final during the 1912–13 season at Weaste, Salford, on Wednesday 11 December 1912, in front of a crowd of 6,000.

Club career

Lewis Bradley changed codes from rugby union to rugby league in 1911, when he transferred from Pontypool RFC to Wigan for a signing-on fee of £200 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £74,330 in 2017), and £5 expenses, he made his début for Wigan in the 17-15 victory over Wakefield Trinity at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 2 December 1911, he scored his first try for Wigan on his début, he was described by the Wigan Observer and District Advertiser as being "Quick off the mark he was often past his opposing threequarter before the latter realised Bradley had the ball. Shall we ever forget this speedy wing threequarter at Central Park? He was the idol of the crowd and it only seems like yesterday that he was dashing down the touchline, his long flowing hair blowing in the wind, those long raking strides, and that final natural swerve", he scored 117-tries in 106-matches (1.1-tries per match) for Wigan in the pre-World War I seasons, he scored 136-tries in 123-matches (1.1-tries per match) for Wigan between 1911 and 1918, he scored his last try for Wigan in the 7-12 defeat by Warrington at the Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 2 December 1916, and he played his last match for Wigan in the 5-8 defeat by Broughton Rangers Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 2 February 1918.