Jamie Bradbury, 2017-2022

Jamie Bradbury became Long Melford manager in June 2017, following the departure of Jules Mumford.

Initially arriving at the club in the summer of 2016 as first team coach under Jules, UEFA B Licence coach Jamie was offered the manager’s role after impressing the club’s director during his first season at Stoneylands.

“When Jules decided to go, our first choice was Jamie,” said then club chairman Colin Woodhouse.

Jamie’s first season as manager, the 2017-18 campaign, ended 59 points and a 16th-place finish in what was then a 24-team division.

The following season, Villagers’ player Steve Chisholm became Jamie’s assistant manager and together they would form a loyal and committed management team, with Mick Garbi and physio Brian Dunster also occupying the dugout.

It was tough on the pitch, however, as the team hung around the relegation places for much of the campaign, but ultimately ended in triumph as they avoided the drop on the last day after winning the last three league games.

It got even better for Jamie’s side, though, having overcome Woodbridge, Hadleigh, Stowmarket and Benfleet, the Villagers reached the Thurlow Nunn League Challenge Cup Final. A solitary Steve Adams goal against Fakenham clinched the cup for the first time in the club’s history.

The following two seasons were ravaged by Covid, but the first half of 2019-20 saw the team reach as high as second in the table following a seven-game winning streak. Eventually, when the season was brought to a premature end with eight games remaining, the Villagers were sitting in the top half and on the verge of a club-best finish.

2020-21 never really got started, with just eight league games played, but the team did win two ties to reach the First Round Qualifying of the FA Cup where Step 3 outfit Cheshunt ended their run at Stoneylands.

The 2021-22 season started slowly, with an early exit from the FA Cup and league results hard to come by. A lift in form came in September, which also saw two FA Vase wins, but much of the season was littered with missed opportunities to gain points in tight games, along with 14 draws. It meant the team ended the campaign in the bottom two of the division.

And, after five years at the helm, Jamie called time on his spell at the club, taking charge for the final time at the last match of the season at home to Walsham Le Willows.

“It’s been a brilliant six years at the club, five as manager, and I have learned so much about the game at this level and grown as a manager and as a coach,” he said on announcing his departure.

“I feel it’s time for me to take a break from football management and reflect on an amazing time at Stoneylands.

“It’s a decision I made a few weeks ago and was hoping it would have a better ending and we’d finish outside the bottom two. But sadly, it wasn’t to be.”

He added: “Long Melford FC is a special club and will always be important to me, and I believe with what is going on behind the scenes it can grow to enjoy a bright future. Whoever comes in as the next manager will have an exciting project on their hands.”

Jamie’s Managerial Record