LEE BRADBURY is taking a few minutes out of the classroom to talk all things Havant & Waterlooville.
It’s probably the first time the 37-year-old has paused for breath all summer with pre-season already fast approaching.
Having just completed his A Licence – alongside the likes of David James, Phil Neville, Peter Schmeichel and Dwight Yorke – Bradbury is now expanding his education on a football management course at Warwick University.
“It’s everything from psychology, strategies, structures, presentations, body language – it’s really good,” Bradbury says.
“I’m well settled into the job of manager now and know what it takes to do it and, hopefully, be successful at it.
“Obviously you’re always learning when you’re in the game but when you are chucked into it reasonably quickly you’ve got to learn from it. I think I’ve done that over the last couple of years.
“It’s been a real eye-opener. As a player you don’t see or appreciate what goes on behind the scenes. And rightly so, the players are there to play. But there’s more to it than people think.
“There’s always something to do, whether it’s organising training, transport and food or looking at DVDs of opposition and working out how we can play, how we can combat their threats. I like all that.”
The former Bournemouth boss certainly isn’t shy of putting in the hard yards. After all he had to go the long way round as a player before making it to the big time – and commanding total fees of over £5m – at the likes of Portsmouth, Manchester City and Crystal Palace.
Starting out at Cowes Sports in the Wessex League, Bradbury went onto to play football around the world with the Army.
“I’m from the Isle of Wight. Back in 1991, when I joined the Army, there was no real scouting network, if you like, or academies, so it was tough to be noticed,” he says.
“I spoke to someone at the Careers Office and they said if you’re good at sport you’ll play for the Army and Services. That’s what I went onto do. I travelled around Europe and all over the world playing football.
“I played for Cowes on leave from the Army. I joined when I was 16 and left when I was 20 so I had four years of the discipline and teamwork – all the things the Army gave me were invaluable and I wouldn’t change that.
“I served in Northern Ireland for two years in Omagh. It made me grow up very quick. I had to wait until I was 18 before I could go out on patrol on the streets but it gave me some really good values in my life. It gave me a different outlook to football than I would have. I saw football as a hobby I got paid for when I turned professional.
Discharge
“It’s what I’d always wanted to do. I grew up in the playground dreaming of being a professional footballer. It took me a lot longer than some to realise my dream but I got there in the end.”
Porstmouth came knocking and Bradbury was given an honourable discharge. More than 500 appearances later he moved from the pitch into the dug-out, aged 35, at Bournemouth when Eddie Howe left for Burnley.
Immediately he hung up his boots – he’d been at the Cherries as a player for five years – to concentrate on his next calling in life.
And how well management started as he led Bournemouth into the League One play-offs only to suffer heartbreak on penalties against Huddersfield.
But just over a year after taking the reins, amid rumours of unrest behind the scenes with controversial chairman Eddie Mitchell, Bradbury was sacked.
“I had 15 months in charge at Bournemouth and I really enjoyed it,” Bradbury says. “It can go one of two ways. You either let it affect you in a positive way or a negative way.
“I was there five years. We had relegation, promotion, we stayed up with minus 17 points – it will always be a club close to my heart.
“We made the League One playoffs, the players had been great but we were unlucky to lose on penalties against Huddersfield. It shows the fine margins. If we’d won that game I could have gone on to be managing in the Championship.
“I’m a positive person and that’s the way I look at it. I just want to get back out on the grass and coach. That’s where I feel most at home.
“This job came along and I just wanted to get out and do it. Maybe look at things from a different angle, take my own views from before and move on. I’ve managed to do that now and I’m starting to reap the benefits.”
And so it was to the Conference South and Havant & Waterlooville last October following the sacking of ex-AFC Totton boss Stuart Ritchie.
The Hawks eventually finished tenth but there was a Manager of the Month prize for Bradbury in March and striker Ollie Palmer finished joint-top scorer with 25 goals.
Not that today’s Non-League is unfamiliar to Bradbury. During his Bournemouth tenure he would often be spotted at Conference games doing his homework and looking for players.
He says: “I bought a couple of players, Charlie Sheringham and Wes Fogden, from Conference South level at Bournemouth. I like to do my due diligence on players, and staff. It gives you a headstart if you know you are bringing in the right players.
“A little bit of organisation, direction and confidence is really important for some players in Non-League. We’ve just sold Chris Arthur to Wimbledon. I’d like to think we’ve helped him.
“Their confidence can be knocked and sometimes the realisation of what it takes day in and day out to be successful at that level. Chris knows what that takes now.”
Blend
As does Bradbury, who’s now looking for consistency from his side in what will no doubt be a competitive Conference South.
Eddie Hutchinson and Pele have re-signed while Farnborough‘s Nic Ciardini has arrived and Bournemouth defender Dan Strugnell has made his loan permanent.
“It’s a bit more of a clean slate this season I suppose,” Bradbury says.
“One being having a whole season with the team and, two, personnel. We’ve had a few go out and
a few come in with more to follow.
“It will be more my team if you like and my ideas. It takes time to get your ideas across, for players to know how you work and to get to know the personalities in the changing room and how to get the best out of each one individually as well as a team.
“We’ve got a good balance at the club. Half the lads work, half don’t and we’ve got a good blend of youth and experience. That is really important for the team.
“I’m not 38 until July so I’m still reasonably young and I’ve had quite a lot of experience already. I’ve been in a fortunate position. Now I’m looking forward to pushing Havant & Waterlooville and trying to take them as far as I can.”
I think that Lee Bradbury could lead the hawks to the conference but as long as they keep Olly Palmer