Carshalton Athletic FC are delighted to confirm that club legend and long-serving stalwart Tommy Bradford will remain with the Robins for 2025–26.

This upcoming season marks an extraordinary milestone for Bradford. He enters his 14th consecutive campaign in a Carshalton shirt, a rare achievement in modern football and a testament to his unwavering commitment and exceptional quality.

Manager Peter Adeniyi shared his thoughts on the retention:
“With Tommy, you always know what you’re getting: professionalism, leadership, and goals. He’s arguably been the easiest player I’ve had the pleasure of managing, and I’m absolutely delighted he’s staying for another year.”

A product of the Robins’ youth academy, Bradford made his senior debut in early 2013 at just 17 during a challenging Ryman Premier relegation battle. He wasted no time making his mark, netting his first senior goal as part of a hat-trick on April Fools’ Day in a 3-0 win against Hampton & Richmond. Two of those goals came within the first five minutes, and he capped off the performance by confidently slotting home a penalty he had taken off Nathaniel Pinney.

Bradford’s prolific goal-scoring has been central to Carshalton’s success. Across three consecutive seasons from 2016 to 2018, he consistently hit double figures, peaking in 2016–17 with a career-best 28 goals, including three hat-tricks. His dramatic 90th-minute winner against Whyteleafe in 17-18, which sealed Carshalton’s return to the Bostik Premier, remains a defining moment in club history. And in February 2019, meanwhile, he reached his 100th club goal in spectacular fashion, curling a breathtaking free kick into the top-left corner during a thrilling 3–3 draw with Worthing.

Now vice-captain and an integral part of the squad, Bradford continues to shape the team with his experience and attacking instinct. During the 2024–25 season, he made 51 appearances, the third-most in the squad behind Fabio Saraiva and Aziz Sankoh, contributing eight goals and countless key moments. His prolific spell from late September to early October included four successive strikes:

• A close-range finish to knock out South Park Reigate in the FA Cup.
• A stunning half-volley off the crossbar in a 1–1 draw with Dover.
• A poacher’s goal from Tom Stagg’s rebound against Melksham.
• A perfectly placed header into the far corner against Hashtag United after a pinpoint Luke Read cross.

Other standout performances included:

• A dramatic 94th-minute winner against AFC Croydon Athletic in the Velocity Cup.
• A crucial equaliser away at Bognor Regis.
• Game-changing contributions in emphatic victories over Bowers & Pitsea and Lewes.

As Carshalton gears up for another exciting season, there is no doubt that Bradford’s experience, work rate, and eye for goal will once again be at the heart of our ambitions.

Welcome back for Year 14, Tommy. A true Robin through and through! Who knows, perhaps Jimmy Bolton’s club record of 242 goals could be under threat someday?