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| Roy Race was famously booked at Bradport |
A real yo-yo team, but more in the sense of going up and down all four divisions. In the 80s alone the team from the North East played in all four divisions and managed to win the FA Cup while a Third Division side.
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| Cogger scores to send Bradport up 72 |
The early 70s were shaped by Mr Fix It better known as Fred Cogger. The handyman and Bradport supporter chanced himself into a trial and impressed Bert Barnes enough for the manager to add him to his pointless Division 4 side. Cogger insisted that Barnes also sign up his best pal Terry Smith, a young right winger.
With Cogger and Smith firing Bradport rocketed to the First Division for the 74/75 season. Bob Brinkley their famous goalie provided a solid last line of defence. While Sam Bartlett was now the star forward, a great goalscorer reknowned for his heading ability. But the reds stay in the First Division was brief as the yo-yo unravelled downwards. Back to back relegations in 76/77 and 77/78 saw Bradport back in the Third Division, but with the yo-yo in full motion, promotion was gained immediately, followed by another one immediately and all of a sudden Bradport were back in the First Division.
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| Sam Bartlett in action 76 |
Amid that spectacular rise and fall and rise again, Bradport in the 78/79 season as a Third Division side managed to win the FA Cup! The man nicknamed the Striker From Nowhere, Don Kellett, fired Port to a famous win. Then promptly disappeared again. Where he came from only one man knew, manager Les Kilby, and he wasn't telling.
By 1980/81 Bradport were back in the First Division and became part of the history of Melchester Rovers as Roy Race, distracted by marital troubles, received a yellow card for a reckless tackle. This is a great moment, busting the myth that Race was never cautioned in his long career.
However, Bradport were relegated at the end of the 81/82 season spending the rest of the decade in the Second Division under the management of disciplinarian Brian Cowans.
Players:
Sam Bartlett AM/CF 7 76/77
Bob Brinkley GK 1 75/76
Ted Burton ST 78/79
Fred Cogger CF 9 72
Cowan 72
Jack Dugdale FW 78/79
Joe Fox LB 3 72
Bill Fraser CM 6 78/79
Fergus Green CF 72
Wilf Hart RB 2 72
Rufus Holden GK 1 72
Don Kellett ST 11 78/79
Alf Lester CB 5 Capt 78/79
Pollock CF 9 68/69
Terry Smith RW 7 72
Stayne IL 10 68/69
Webster IR 8 68/69
Mike Williams FW 8 85/86 (loaned to Carlton)
Bert Barnes Manager early 70s
Brian Cowans Manager 86/87
Les Kilby Manager late 70s
Ian Smith Coach late 70s
Notes: Bradport were the feature side in two stories, Mr Fix It in Victor and The Striker From Nowhere in Crunch. Mike Williams the star of City, was also on the books at Bradport.
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