Northern Ireland

Liverpool FC leads tributes as Conor Bradley mourns death of his father Joe

Funeral for 58-year-old Co Tyrone father-of-three will take place in Aghyaran on Tuesday

Joe Bradley (left) who died on Saturday morning, just three days after his son Conor (right) scored his first goal for Liverpool on Wednesday night.
Joe Bradley (left) who died on Saturday morning, just three days after his son Conor (right) scored his first goal for Liverpool on Wednesday night.
By Ryan McAleer

Liverpool Football Club have led the tributes to Joe Bradley, the father of 20-year-old Premier League star Conor Bradley, who died on Saturday.

The 58-year-old father-of-three passed away at the family home in the Co Tyrone village of Killen, following a long illness.

Joe Bradley died just three days after his 20-year-old son Conor scored his first goal for Liverpool, in a man of the match performance against Chelsea on Wednesday night.

In a brief statement, the Premier League Club said: “Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the death of Conor Bradley’s father, Joe.

“The thoughts of everybody at the club are with Conor and all of the Bradley family at this very difficult and sad time.

“On behalf of Conor, LFC strongly urges that the family’s privacy is fully respected at this time.”

Mr Bradley was a well-known businessman in the Castlederg area, running his van dealership Derg Commercials for many years next door to the family home in Killen, just three miles outside the Co Tyrone town.

His funeral will take place in St Patrick’s Church, Aghyaran on Tuesday afternoon.

The grandfather will be laid to rest in the adjoining graveyard, next to the St Davog’s GAA club, where his son Conor played underage football.

The family’s strong connection with the GAA club saw Joe and his wife Linda recently stepping in to become shirt sponsors for Aghyaran’s under-16 ladies team.

It was their son’s talent on the soccer pitch, developed at the St Patrick’s club in Castlederg and then Dungannon Swifts, that eventually attracted the interest of Liverpool.

Conor Bradley joined the Premier League club’s youth academy in 2019 aged 15, making his senior debut two years later in a Carabao Cup clash against Norwich.

Joe Bradley is survived by his wife Linda, children Niall, Conor and Joanne, and his three grandchildren.

Yesterday, Arsenal delivered a blow to Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes with a 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium in London.