Below are the nominations received for Finn Harps:
Paul Hegarty nominated by Deidre from Letterkenny
He was a player blessed with determination and professionalism.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Aidan McNelis, Andrew Devine and Conor C Gallagher
Brendan Bradley is probably one of the most famous players of 1970s era in League of Ireland soccer. Bradley had three extremely successful spells with Harps and although a Derry native, is Finn Harps through and through and can still be seen around Finn Park on a match night.
During Patsy McGowan's first appointment as manager to Harps in their LoI debut season of 1969/70, one of the more significant decisions of his career saw Patsy sign Brendan Bradley to Finn Harps from Derry City. Brendan had the reputation of being a lazy player but the persistence of Patsy McGowan was to convince Brendan that he had a future on the League of Ireland scene. As Brendan went on to score 247 league goals, taking into account the 12 he scored in the English League, Patsy was proven a little more than prophetic.
Born in Derry on the 7 June 1949, Brendan Bradley displayed exceptional talent as a youth and he was playing in the Derry and District league at the tender age of 15. A year later he signed for Derry City and for the next three seasons he was a regular in the club’s reserve team. However, he made only a handful of first team appearances, unable to displace regular striker Danny Hale.
Even at a distance Patsy McGowan was impressed enough to offer the princely sum of £100 to secure the talents of the 19-year-old in 1969.
A goal from Bradley in 1972 helped Harps win their first major honour, the Dublin City Cup. In July of that season, Lincoln City boss David Herd paid a bargain basement fee of £6,000 to take him to England. The impact was immediate, scoring 12 goals in his 19 games, but then things began to change. The team had a bad run of results, the goals stopped coming, and there was a change of manager with Herd being replaced by Graham Taylor, leading Brendan hankering for a return home.
McGowan and Harps reduced the fee by £2,000 that enabled Brendan to take up where he left off, goal credits that made him a 'King' amongst his peers. Bradley was prominent as Finn Harps won the FAI Cup in 1974, scoring twice in the dying embers of a game that Harps won 3-1 against St Patrick's Athletic in Dalymount Park. In the Cup Winners' Cup of the following season Brendan scored in the tie with Turkish side Bursapor, but Harps fell on the aggregate score over both legs of 2-4. In the seasons 1974/75 and 1975/76 Brendan Bradley topped the national goal scoring list on both occasions, the fourth time in his career, a feat not equalled by any player before or since. It seems quite amazing that Brendan was not given any representative honours outside of three Inter-League games in the early 70s.
In 1978, he moved to Athlone Town, unsuccessful as it turned out, before linking once more with Patsy McGowan, this time at the Sligo Showgrounds, a tenure that was rewarded by 44 league goals and a FAI Cup runners-up medal from the 1981 final with Dundalk. He returned to Harps to commence season 1982/83, staying a further four seasons, before re-joining his home town club in 1986.
Brendan helped Derry capture the Shield but in the autumn of a sparkling career he was hurt by the abuse and criticism that emanated from some sections of the Brandywell terraces.
He still holds the record for the most goals scored in the League of Ireland, an incredible 235 league goals. An amazing 181 of them coming in the blue and white of the Harps including the record number of individual goals in one season at 29.
He still resides in the city of his birth, taking time out to visit Finn Park to regularly watch his beloved Finn Harps. The King might have abdicated his throne, but the legacy of his reign, a quite staggering total of 247 (235 LoI) league goals, is unlikely to be surpassed let alone equalled.
(From the official Finn Harps website)
Brendan Bradley nominated by Ethan Griffin
He was the best player from the north-west to ever grace the LoI.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Oliver Boyle
Brendan Bradley has to be included in this. I cannot believe that the guy who has scored the most goals in the League of Ireland by a country mile has not been mentioned.
From memory Brendan Bradley scored approximately 238 goals in the LoI. He is 60-odd goals ahead of his nearest rival and about 100 ahead of any player who is still playing.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Daithi Ramsay
The greatest talent to ever grace the LoI.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Sam Hegarty
Has to be Brendan Bradley of Finn Harps, one of the finest goalscorers in the history of Irish football. He went to England for one season where he was prolific in the league but returned to his beloved Harps mainly because of homesickness. Truly a Harps legend and a real gent to boot. 'The Rigger', Patsy McGowan has to get a mention too, as the man is Finn Harps since the day the club was founded.
Brendan Bradley nominated by James Byrne
You left out one of the greatest players to play LoI football, the great Brendan Bradley. He scored 235 league goals, 181 of them for Finn Harps, including 29 in one season. Surely he should be mentioned!! So that is a vote for Bradley from me!!!
Brendan Bradley nominated by Barry Foley
A true legend!
Brendan Bradley nominated by Joe Doherty
I wish to nominate Brendan Bradley as not only a Finn Harps legend, but a League of Ireland legend. No player has scored more goals in League of Ireland history than the great Brendan Bradley. The big Derryman signed for Harps in their first season in League of Ireland football in 1969 and the rest is history. He scored 235 league goals in the League of Ireland between 1969-1985 and it's a feat that’s unlikely to be beaten. Indeed, the next best tally is that of Pat Morley who didn't break the 200 barrier mark, scoring 182 times. Big Brendan scored 18 of his 235 league goals in Harps colours. In all competitions, he managed to score 241 times for Harps. There's unlikely to be another Brendan Bradley and for the feat of being the only player in League of Ireland history to score more than 200 goals, I am nominating Brendan Bradley as the Number One League of Ireland legend.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Niall McGonagle, Ballybofey
I would like to nominate Brendan Bradley for the greatest player to ever play for Finn Harps, most LoI goals ever and is still a regular at Finn Park after all these years. Hell of a nice guy too.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Liam McAteer
My nominee is Brendan Bradley of Finn Harps. The most prolific goalscorer in the history of the League of Ireland. Brendan was a clinical finisher and had a deceptive turn of speed. Brendan was modest at all times and a true gentleman.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Declan Kerr
Brendan Bradley nominated by Thomas Boner
His goalscoring record will never be matched. With 237 goals in his career I think 'The King' should be named Greatest League of Ireland Player of All-Time. I think sometimes people forget that there are and were great footballers that play and have played outside of Dublin. Bradley was a terrific footballer and a legend for Finn Harps where he spent the majority of his footballing career so Bradley gets my shout on this one and I'm sure plenty more will nominate him.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Kevin McGonagle
Brendan Bradley nominated by Brendan Phair (17) Ballybofey
He was born to please and taught to tease. On the football pitch that is. Haha.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Victor Fisher
Scored six goals in one match against two of the best centre backs picked for the League of Ireland (David Pugh and Tony Stenson from Sligo Rovers). A goalscoring machine who won the golden boot.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Andrew Murray
He is the record holder for most goals scored in the LoI.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Frank McGlynn
League of Ireland greatest player: Brendan Bradley, Finn Harps.
Club greatest player: Al Finucane, Limerick.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Stephen Toner
The best player I have ever seen. Simple as that.
Declan Boyle nominated by Dan O'Brien
Brendan Bradley nominated by Tony Brogan
Finn Harps legend Brendan Bradley has to get my vote.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Gerard Boyle, Philadelphia, PA
Brendan Bradley nominated by Tarlach Mac Giolla Bhríde
True legend and stalwart.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Mark McIvor
Brendan Bradley nominated by Stephen Doherty
One of the most exciting players ever to have played in the League of Ireland.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Michael O'Kane
Brendan was easily the best centre- forward the league has ever seen. With over 300 league & cup goals, a record that will stand for a long time to come. I can't see any reason that a player of that calibre shouldn't be selected in the best eleven the league has ever seen. Big Brendan's name is part of what the Harps are today, you think Harps you think Brendan Bradley.
Brendan Bradley nominated by Cormac Blee (23), Aughabrack, County Tyrone
Football fans pay their hard earned money to gain admission to matches in order to see goals. He scored them with a phenomenal consistency and entertained the large crowds attending Finn Harps matches in those days. Indeed, it could be argued that he played no small part in ensuring such crowds flocked to Finn Park. Furthermore, the fact he achieved such unprecedented success in front of goal with a club which, quite apart from being considered unfashionable, was only relatively new to the League of Ireland when he played with them makes his contribution all the more remarkable. It therefore is unsurprising that his goalscoring feats have remained unequalled since his retirement from the game several decades ago. He was, quite simply, the league's greatest ever goalscorer and accordingly a legend and iconic figure.
Brendan Bradley nominated by John Dunnion
Brendan Bradley nominated by Jack Quinn, Ballybofey
I think Brendan Bradley was the greatest player to have played in our league. The statistics alone are testament to his great goalscoring prowess but only those who witnessed his guile and grace on the football field can appreciate what a great player he was. I consider it one of the great fortunes in my life that I was lucky enough to have seen him play. Come on the Harps!!!
