Shayne Bradley - Mansfield Town

Mansfield Town

Shayne started his Mansfield career well, scoring nine goals in his first half season and striking an effective partnership with Chris Greenacre. In the 2001–02 season, Mansfield manager Billy Dearden left the club and was replaced by Stuart Watkiss. At the time, Mansfield were chasing promotion from Division 3. The Stags suffered a dip in form under Watkiss, but were still able to gain promotion at the end of the season. Shayne was a regular scorer when he played, but he was beginning to have problems with a series of injuries.

Bradley began the 2002-2003 season by injuring his ankle in a pre-season friendly against Nottingham Forest on 27 July 2002 and then, in his bid to return to fitness, damaged the ligaments in his other ankle in a reserve team game against Hull City on 28 August 2002. The injury required surgery. In October Bradley's contract was paid up by the club, with manager Stuart Watkiss stating that, as the club's record signing and one of its highest earners, "in terms of value for money, the deal has been catastrophic for the club". To try to obtain fitness, Bradley signed for non-league side Eastwood Town.