a Bit of background

Great Bradfords FC were set up in 1978 in Braintree by husband and wife Melvyn and Maureen Baker. They started with one team playing from Great Bradfords school on the Fairview estate (hence the name). The club gradually grew playing initially in the Braintree league and then later into the Blackwater and Dengie league before moving in to the Colchester and District Youth League with a peak of 18 teams and winning leagues regularly becoming a formidable force through Essex in the 90’s and through to the early 00’s.

Football as a whole suffered a drop in participation from around 2009 and the club began to feel the affects with us holding only 3 teams by the time we got to 2014. The club were at risk of folding and that was made worse in February 2015 when our co-founder and secretary of 35 years, Maureen Baker passed away suddenly. Maureen was the heart of the club and had stayed in the secretary role since formation. It looked like the club could be in trouble. A group of volunteers banded together to take on the club and ensure continuation and a remarkable growth began within the club again. As we hit 2016/17 season the club was at a shock height with 8 teams for the season ready and men’s football returning to the club. In the three seasons that followed the club saw an unbelievable growth to reach 14 teams from Under 7’s to Men’s and including a girls team looking to provide ladies football for the club in the future. The club started to find silverware again with consecutive league runners up in the Colchester League, League winners and Cup Winners for our Mens Sunday team and the big League win from our Under 13’s most recently.

The end of the 2018/19 season saw the club at the most stable point with the largest and most committed group of volunteers seen since the mid 90’s and 16 teams ready for the new season. It was at this point the club received some incredible news, Great Bradfords FC was nominated for and won Essex Football Association Charter Standard Club of the Year beating all other clubs in the county to the award.

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Announcement: Summer Tryouts Begin August 28th

Our Mission & Vision

Our Mission:

To provide exciting and enjoyable footballing opportunities to the grassroots players of Essex.

Our Vision:

To support the progression of every player and coach,

To install a passion and loyalty into every player and coach,

To celebrate the pride and purpose of success with every player and coach.

Philosophy & Style of Play

As a club we encourage an exciting and attacking style of play from all of our teams, we like to see our players play football and enjoy seeing a play out from the back style of football. Our philosophy in that style of play however puts the onus on our player’s decision making and a responsibility from them to develop their own style of football with the help of our FA qualified coaches.

Why Bradfords?

Bradfords isn’t your ordinary grassroots football club we have an extensive group of volunteers who are committed to the progression and development of the players that wear our three swords on their shirts.

The club has a family feel about it, we endeavour to ensure that each and every player feels a part of the Great Bradfords family. We believe that if our players are cared for, happy and enjoying their football then the on pitch successes will naturally flow,

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