Role Footballer Years Team Height 1.78 m | 1988–1991 Northampton Town Position Defender, Midfielder Name Bradley Sandeman | |
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Full name Bradley Robert Sandeman Date of birth (1970-02-24) 24 February 1970 (age 45) Playing position | ||
Place of birth Northampton, England | ||
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.
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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, Worcester City, Newcastle Town, and Maidstone United.
Playing career
Sandeman started his career at Northampton Town under the management of Graham Carr, as 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. 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. 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.
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. He was a regular first team player in 1992–93 until he picked up a thigh injury in February, which required an operation. 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. He was a first team regular in the First Division in 1994–95, before he fell out of favour once again in July 1995. The 1995–96 season was his last at Vale Park, and he was given a free transfer to Rotherham United in May 1996.
Originally signed to play at right-back, he soon was pushed further forward into midfield. The "Millers" suffered relegation out of the Second Division in 1996–97 under Danny Bergara, though Sandeman had left the Don Valley Stadium for Hereford United in March 1997. He made just seven appearances for the "Bulls", and left the club in the summer after the Edgar Street club were relegated into the Conference under Graham Turner. He spent the first half of the 1997–98 season with Northwich Victoria, before joining Conference rivals Kettering Town, who were managed by former teammate Steve Berry. He later combined his duties as a postal worker with playing semi-professional football for Worcester City (Southern League), Newcastle Town (North West Counties League), Kidsgrove Athletic (Northern Premier League First Division), Dover Athletic (Isthmian League), and the newly reformed Maidstone United (Kent League).
Coaching career
In 2008, he joined Kent League club Tunbridge Wells, becoming assistant manager at the club the following year. He went on to coach at Lordswood, before following James Collins to help coach Cray Valley Paper Mills in 2016.
Style of play
Sandeman was a versatile player and an accomplished and effective passer of the ball and a great and committed tackler.