When he was an army recruit, Bradbury played part-time when on leave for Halstead Town under 18 side, and during the 1994-95 season Cowes Sports. Bradbury also played for Northern Irish side Fivemiletown United while stationed in Northern Ireland with the army. Bradbury started his professional career at Portsmouth, where he played for three years. A number of impressive performances in the 1996–97 season resulted in interest from a number of clubs, and in July 1997 he was purchased by Manchester City managerFrank Clark for a club record £3 million. However, Bradbury struggled to make an impact at Maine Road, and at the end of the 1997–98 season City were relegated, with Bradbury having scored just six goals. Three months into the following season Bradbury moved to Crystal Palace for £1.5 million. Less than a year later Bradbury was on the move again, returning to Portsmouth for £300,000. Bradbury's career started to recover at Pompey, making more than 100 appearances in his second spell at the club. However, in the 2002–03 season Bradbury lost his first team place and was loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday. He returned from his loan spell to contribute three appearances and one goal to Portsmouth's title run-in as they won the First Division title and promotion to the Premier League. The following season he was loaned to Derby County before being sold to Walsall in March 2004. At the end of the 2004–05 season Bradbury was playing for Oxford United. Bradbury signed a four-month contract with Southend United on 31 January 2006. He subsequently signed a longer contract. In August 2007, Bradbury signed for AFC Bournemouth on a four-month loan deal. After playing one game for the club the loan was made permanent, and Bradbury signed a contract until the end of the season. In the later stages of Bradbury's career, he played in a much different role, being converted into a right back for Bournemouth during an injury crisis he became the first choice right back for the south coast club, but with the arrival of defender Stephen Purches, who returned after three seasons away from Bournemouth, Bradbury went back to his former role of striker whilst attacking options were limited.
Management career
AFC Bournemouth
On 15 January 2011, Bradbury was appointed as caretaker manager after the departure of Eddie Howe to Burnley. The next day, he announced his retirement from playing, and on 28 January, was given a two-and-a-half-year deal as permanent manager of the club. In January 2012, Bradbury signed an improved three-and-a-half-year contract to manage the League One club, keeping him at Bournemouth until the summer of 2015. During his first season at the helm, Bradbury steered the Cherries into the League One Play-offs, eventually losing to Huddersfield on penalties. On 25 March, during his second season, Bradbury was dismissed from Bournemouth following the club's run of poor form.
Havant & Waterlooville
Bradbury was appointed manager of Conference South club Havant & Waterlooville on 9 October 2012. At the time, Bradbury was coaching the Under-14s at Portsmouth's Academy set up In his first game as manager, his side won 2–1 against Basingstoke Town on 13 October 2012. Following Michael Appleton's departure to become manager at Blackpool, Bradbury was linked with a return to Portsmouth, however Guy Whittingham was appointed instead. On 30 April 2016, Havant & Waterlooville's relegation from the National League South was confirmed. A whole season in The Isthmian league followed, and promotion was achieved on the last day of the season on 22 April 2017. Bradbury earned the 'Manager of the year' award for winning the league. Hawks played the 2017-18 season back in the National League South and won it at the first attempt, gaining promotion to the National League Premier Division.
Eastbourne Borough and Crawley Town
Bradbury moved to Eastbourne Borough in May 2019, and managed the National League South club until November of that year. In December 2019 he was appointed assistant head coach of Crawley Town in League Two, alongside newly appointed head coachJohn Yems.
Personal life
Lee Bradbury spent time in the army before entering the world of football. His son Harvey is also a footballer.
