DAN IS A MAN ON A MISSION
DAN BRADLEY touched back down at Alfreton Town this week – and insisted he’s only just reaching his prime.
The 29-year-old midfielder is back at the club he spent four seasons with following two spells at AFC Fylde and another at Kidderminster Harriers. Part of the Coasters side which gained promotion from Step 2 in 2017 – scoring 18 goals in the process – Midlander Bradley has always wanted to return to Alfreton. Now, after Fylde were surprisingly relegated from the National League last season, Bradley is back where he feels he belongs and is desperate to help the Reds improve on their 13th place finish last season under boss Billy Heath. “Once I had left Fylde, Wayne Bradley (Alfreton chairman) got in touch to see what my plans were,” he told The NLP.
“I spoke to my missus and said that I wanted to go back to somewhere familiar. I haven’t got a bad word to say about the club, so I was delighted. For a small team who haven’t got the biggest of budgets, everything has always been done properly and that was the real pull for me.
“I really wanted to feel valued somewhere, both on and off the pitch, and not have to worry about anything. The facilities aren’t amazing, but it doesn’t matter when there’s such a good atmosphere around Alfreton.
“I always wanted to come back at some point. The timing is absolutely perfect for me as well as the club. I’ve just turned 29 and am ready to hit the ground running.
“It’s not a case of me coming here to pick up a wage, I feel like I am in my prime. It’ll be nice to give back to them now they’ve taken me in.”
Sentimentality
Returning to the club almost a decade after he first joined in 2011 is not just for sentimentality.
Bradley believes Alfreton can prove strong competition next season, especially with the acquisitions of forward Elliot Reeves and centre-back Dwayne Wiley joining this week, from Margate and Matlock respectively.
And Bradley also admits he is relishing the prospect of coming up against his old club at Step 2 next season.
“I will never be more motivated for a match than when we play Fylde,” he added. “The fans were fantastic there, but I cannot wait.
“There’s only going to be a small squad here, which is brilliant. I want to play in every game. It’s what I have done the past four or five seasons and if I thought I was going to be rotated, I would have been unhappy.
“I wouldn’t be signing for a club I don’t think could get promoted. I don’t know the club’s ambitions, but that’s what mine are!”