'I Was A Fool To Turn Down Newcastle!'

Last updated : 30 October 2016 By Footy Mad - Editor

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Reflecting on his career that started 27 years ago and is still going strong today, Gary Bradshaw wonders what might have been had he not turned down a move to Newcastle United.

Aged 12 at the time, Bradshaw was offered a YTS contract, but he wanted to stay at home and work towards his dream of playing for his hometown team Hull City at Boothferry Park.

It was at a time when the Toon were flying, with top-six finishes in the Premier League a regular occurrence and the fans were happy. Bradshaw admits turning Newcastle down didn't bother him, but the more he thinks about it, the more he wishes he had given it a go in the north-east.

"I don't know what was going through my mind at that time," Bradshaw told the Mail.

"I got invited to play for Barham Boys in a friendly they were playing against Newcastle United Boys team in the north east.

"I scored three goals and I guess they wanted to sign me up after that. I always said I never regretted it, but thinking about it more recently, I am beginning to. It would have been nice to see where the move might have taken me and how my career would have panned out.

"But it's in the past and there is nothing I can do about it now. Back then, all I wanted to do was to play for my hometown club."