1. Overview
Bradley Halliday (born on 10 July 1995), also known as Brad Halliday, is an English professional footballer who primarily plays as a defender, specifically as a right-back, but can also operate as a midfielder. He currently plays for Bradford City in EFL League Two. Halliday began his career in youth academies, notably with Middlesbrough and Newcastle United, before turning professional. He gained early senior experience through several loan spells at clubs like York City, Hartlepool United, and Accrington Stanley. He then secured permanent moves to Cambridge United, Doncaster Rovers, and Fleetwood Town before joining Bradford City in 2022, where he has become a key player, earning the club's Player of the Year award in 2024.
2. Early and personal life
Halliday was born and raised in Redcar, North Yorkshire. He attended Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough, North Yorkshire.
2.1. Childhood and education
Halliday's football journey began early, as he played for Redcar Town's youth team for a decade. In 2010, he joined the Middlesbrough academy. Although he later returned to Redcar, Middlesbrough continued to monitor his progress. A Newcastle United scout spotted Halliday playing for Redcar, leading him to join the club's academy in early 2013. However, he rejoined Middlesbrough after impressing manager Dave Parnaby during a trial and subsequently signed his first professional contract with the club in August 2013.
2.2. Family and personal life
Bradley Halliday is engaged and has two young children.
3. Career
Bradley Halliday's club football career saw him progress through various stages, from youth development to establishing himself as a professional player across different English football leagues.
3.1. Early career and youth development
Halliday spent 10 years playing for Redcar Town's youth team before joining the Middlesbrough academy in 2010. While he briefly returned to Redcar, Middlesbrough continued to track his development. In early 2013, a Newcastle United scout identified his talent, leading him to join their academy. Shortly after, in August 2013, he rejoined Middlesbrough's academy, impressing manager Dave Parnaby, and signed his first professional contract with the club.
3.2. Loan spells
After signing his professional contract with Middlesbrough, Halliday spent significant periods on loan to gain first-team experience across various clubs in EFL League Two.
3.2.1. York City loan
Having regularly played for Middlesbrough's under-21s during the 2014-15 season, Halliday joined League Two club York City on a one-month youth loan on 14 November 2014. This move was intended to provide cover and competition for right-back Marvin McCoy. He made his first-team debut for York on 13 December 2014 in a 3-2 home defeat to AFC Wimbledon. Following a man-of-the-match performance, his loan was extended until 17 January 2015. Halliday quickly established himself in the team ahead of McCoy. On 26 December 2014, he received the first red card of his senior career for a two-footed tackle in York's 1-0 home victory against Accrington Stanley. After serving a three-match suspension, his loan at York was further extended until the end of the season. He scored his first career goal on 2 May 2015, an 85th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 away draw against Portsmouth, with a shot into the bottom right corner after capitalizing on a slip from Dan Butler. He concluded his loan spell at York with 24 appearances and 1 goal.
3.2.2. Hartlepool United loan
On 10 September 2015, Halliday joined League Two club Hartlepool United on a one-month loan. This move provided cover for injured players Jordan Richards and Michael Duckworth, as well as the suspended Carl Magnay. He made his debut for Hartlepool two days later, on 12 September 2015, in a 1-0 away loss to Exeter City. He completed his loan spell having made six appearances for the club.
3.2.3. Accrington Stanley loan
On 20 October 2015, Halliday moved to another League Two club, Accrington Stanley, on a one-month emergency loan. He debuted for Accrington on the same day in a 4-3 home defeat to AFC Wimbledon. After making 11 appearances for Accrington, his loan was extended for the remainder of the 2015-16 season on 4 January 2016.
3.3. Cambridge United
On 31 August 2016, Halliday signed a long-term contract with League Two club Cambridge United for an undisclosed fee. He was offered a new contract by Cambridge United at the end of the 2018-19 season.
3.4. Doncaster Rovers
On 24 May 2019, Halliday signed a two-year deal with League One side Doncaster Rovers.
3.5. Fleetwood Town
Halliday joined Fleetwood Town on a two-year deal, officially signing on 4 June 2021.
3.6. Bradford City
Halliday signed for Bradford City on his birthday, 10 July 2022, agreeing to a two-year deal. He made his 100th appearance for the club on 6 April 2024, notably scoring the only goal in a 1-0 home victory against Gillingham. For his outstanding performances throughout the 2023-24 season, Halliday was named Bradford City's Player of the Year. At the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, Bradford City triggered a contract extension for Halliday, ensuring his continued presence at the club. At the start of the 2024-25 season, Halliday expressed a positive outlook on the competition for a first-team spot following the loan signing of Jay Benn, welcoming it as a healthy challenge.
4. Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Middlesbrough | 2014-15 | Championship | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2015-16 | Championship | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2016-17 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| York City (loan) | 2014-15 | League Two | 24 | 1 | - | - | - | 24 | 1 | |||
| Hartlepool United (loan) | 2015-16 | League Two | 6 | 0 | - | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| Accrington Stanley (loan) | 2015-16 | League Two | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| Cambridge United | 2016-17 | League Two | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 | |
| 2017-18 | League Two | 43 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 1 | |
| 2018-19 | League Two | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| Total | 111 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 123 | 2 | ||
| Doncaster Rovers | 2019-20 | League One | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | League One | 37 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 1 | |
| Total | 71 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 87 | 1 | ||
| Fleetwood Town | 2021-22 | League One | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Bradford City | 2022-23 | League Two | 46 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 53 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | League Two | 44 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 53 | 4 | |
| 2024-25 | League Two | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
| Total | 119 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 142 | 5 | ||
| Career total | 366 | 9 | 19 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 441 | 9 | ||
5. Honours
Individual
- EFL League Two Team of the Season: 2023-24
- Bradford City Player of the Year: 2023-24