Tim Bredbury

Timothy Aston Bredbury (Chinese: 巴貝利; born 25 April 1963) is a former Hong Kong professional footballer who played as a striker. Bredbury is a UEFA/AFC A-licensed coach.

Tim Bredbury
Personal information
Full nameTimothy Aston Bredbury
Date of birth (1963-04-25) 25 April 1963 (age 61)
Place of birthBritish Hong Kong
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s)Striker
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1979–1982Liverpool Reserves6(1)
1982Ryoden4(13)
1982–1984Seiko34(15)
1985–1986Rangers (HKG)
1986–1990South China(61)
1990–1991Lai Sun29(21)
1991–1992Sydney Olympic24(15)
1992Selangor18(11)
1993Sabah10(3)
1993South China3(1)
1993–1994Voicelink11(6)
1994–1995Sing Tao24(8)
1995–1996Frankwell14(3)
1996–1999Instant-Dict
International career
1986–1999Hong Kong34(14)
Managerial career
2006Rangers
2007Tai Po
2007–2008Rangers
2011–2012Rangers
2012–2013Sun Hei
2007–2013Kitchee (academy coach)
2012–2013Tai Chung
2016–2017HKFC U18 Team & HKFC Vets Team
(HKFC Soccer 7's 2016/2017)
2017–2018Kitchee (U14 Team)
2018–2019Kitchee (assistant technical director)
2019–2020Kowloon Cricket Club
2023Sham Shui Po (assistant coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Bredbury was born in Hong Kong to British parents from Liverpool. His father John moved to Hong Kong as a fireman working for the Hong Kong Government. He went to Glenealy School and King George V School. As a talented sportsman, he represented Hong Kong in rugby sevens at the 1979 Rosslyn Park World Schools Sevens, as well as in field hockey and swimming. He has three siblings who have also represented Hong Kong at field hockey and rugby.

Club career

Bredbury began his football career with Liverpool in 1979, signing as an apprentice professional. After two years, he was offered full professional terms on a one-year contract.[1]

Bredbury stayed at the Liverpool reserve team for three years, winning the Central League twice, the Liverpool Senior Cup and the Nice International Invitation Tournament in France.

At the end of his contract, Bredbury was then approached by Ryoden. He decided to take the offer and return to Hong Kong. He scored 13 goals in 4 games and was soon signed up with Hong Kong league giants Seiko, playing alongside the likes of Arie Haan, Theo de Jong, Dick Nanninga, René van de Kerkhof, Johnny Rep, Peter Bodak and Benny Wendt in a highly successful 2-year period winning the league twice.

Between 1982 and 1999, Bredbury played for various clubs in Hong Kong, such as Hong Kong Rangers, South China, Lai Sun, Frankwell, Sing Tao and Instant-Dict, as well as Australian club Sydney Olympic FC and Malaysian clubs Selangor FA and Sabah FA.[2][3]

Bredbury was the joint top goalscorer in Hong Kong on two separate occasions and finished tied (with Dale Tempest) in the Hong Kong First Division League with 21 goals during the 1990–1991 season with Lai Sun FC before leaving Hong Kong and signing for Sydney Olympic in Australia.

In his debut season Bredbury also finished as joint top scorer (with Kimon Taliadoros) in the National Soccer League with Sydney Olympic FC during the 1991–1992 season scoring 15 goals in 24 appearances.[4]

Bredbury also had two successful seasons playing in Malaysia with giants Selangor FC and second division side Sabah FC. At Sabah, Bredbury helped the club reach the FA Cup Final, the first time a second division side had achieved this feat.

At club level, Bredbury played against top club sides from around the world, including Corinthians, Lucky Gold Star (now Seoul), Odense, Sampdoria, A.C. Milan, Everton, Aston Villa, Coventry, Sparta Prague, Brøndby and Chelsea.

In 1986, Bredbury was invited to join the Hong Kong national team and, in a career that spanned over 10 years, he played in the World Cup qualifying rounds, Olympics qualifying rounds and Asian Games in Yokohama, Japan. He played over 30 representative games scoring 14 goals.

Bredbury was also a regular member of the Hong Kong League XI side competing in the Carlsberg Cup and Dynasty Cup tournaments playing against such sides as Denmark, Paraguay (where he was "Man of the Match"), Yugoslavia, Japan, South Korea, Nigeria, Sweden, Romania, Switzerland, China.

In addition to his professional playing career, Bredbury is also a fully qualified English Football Association coach and gained his UEFA A Licence in December 2011 through the English Football Association. In 2016, he also received recognition through the AFC and now holds the equivalent license.

Bredbury is a member of the English Football Association Coaches Association and also a former member of the English Professional Footballers Association.

Post-playing career

Bredbury worked as a marketing manager, professional coach, sports journalist, event organiser and television presenter on ATV's World channel.

Coaching career

La Salle College

In 2005, Bredbury was appointed head coach of the schools A, B and C grade teams. In that season, La Salle were the overall School Champions in football.

Rangers

In 2006–07 season, Bredbury secured his first professional head coaching position with Rangers FC in the HKFA 1st division.

Tai Po

In 2007–08 season, Bredbury was appointed head coach of Tai Po in the Hong Kong First Division.

Second stint at Rangers

In 2007–08 season, Bredbury rejoined Rangers in the Hong Kong First Division. After his second stint with Rangers, Bredbury joined the highly successful Kitchee/FC Barcelona Escola program.

Third stint at Rangers

In 2011–12 season, Rangers announced that Bredbury would become the head coach.[5] During his third stint, Biu Chun Rangers also won the HKFA Reserve League.

Sun Hei

In 2012–13 season, Sun Hei announced that Bredbury would take over as first team coach in preparation for the 2012–13 season and the AFC Cup Competition.

Tai Chung

In 2012–13 season Bredbury joined Tai Chung, a feeder club for Kitchee in the Hong Kong Second Division.

HKFC

In 2016, Bredbury became head coach for the U18 HKFC Academy team playing in the HKFA Youth Leagues. Bredbury also coached the Hong Kong Football Club side in the 2016 Citibank International Soccer 7's Masters Tournament.

Kitchee

In 2017, Bredbury became head coach for the U14 Kitchee Football Club Academy team playing in the HKFA Youth Leagues. During his management, Kitchee U14 won the HKFA U14 First Division.

Discovery Bay Masters FC

In 2018, Bredbury became head coach for the Discovery Bay FC Masters (DBFC) team playing in the HKFC International Soccer Sevens. DBFC won the Masters tournament without conceding a goal in the tournament.In 2019, DBFC Masters also reached the final of the HKFC International Soccer Sevens Plate tournament.

Kowloon Cricket Club

In 2019, Bredbury became head coach for the Kowloon Cricket Club Dragons team playing in the Yau Yee League 1st Division.

Sham Shui Po

In October 2023, Bredbury was appointed as the assistant coach of Sham Shui Po.

Honours

  • 2 Central League Champions - UK
  • 1 Liverpool Senior Cup Champions - UK
  • 1 Nice Invitation Cup Champions - Fra
  • 1 Second Division League Champions - HK
  • 1 Junior Viceroy Cup Champions - HK
  • 7 First Division League Champions - HK
  • 2 Lunar New Year Cup Champions - HK
  • 5 Viceroy Cup Champions - HK
  • 2 Senior Shield Champions - HK
  • 4 FA Cup Champions - HK
  • 2 Seven a Side Champions - HK
  • 2 Top Goal Scorer - HK
  • 1 NSL Joint Top Goal Scorer - HK

References