Bradshaw: Why I had to get away to New York
The defender quit the panel — and his job as a health and safety officer — to make the move to New York as he comes to terms with Galway’s Connacht SFC hammering to Mayo, and his dismissal in that defeat.
“It was a real let-down and I found it hard to pick myself up from that. I said, ‘it’s time to get out of here’ after the Mayo match. After the game I felt like locking the door, but Niall Coleman came back to my house and we went for a few quiet drinks. I wanted to keep the head down. I didn’t want to see anyone for a few days,” said Bradshaw, who made his Galway debut as a 19-year-old under Peter Ford.
He continued: “I’m just not enjoying football at the moment. That Mayo game and the club game, it just took a lot out of me, mentally more so than physically. It’s tough.
“You see a lot of crap being written and said... I know you need to be thick-skinned, but it can get on top of you. I probably brought a lot of it on myself, but listen, it comes with the territory of inter-county football.
“Then the story came out that I was leaving the squad and I hadn’t even told Alan for definite what I was doing. I still hadn’t my mind made up. I have a slight inkling how it got out, but it shouldn’t have got out the way it did.
“I hadn’t told the squad, Alan, my club, or my family that I was going for sure. That’s not easy.
“I have since consulted my family, as well as some of the more senior lads in the Galway squad. I ran it by them and in fairness, they were understanding.
“I didn’t want to let them down by walking away, but I felt it was good for myself and good for the team. If I was going to stay I wanted to make a positive contribution and I don’t think I can.
“I’ll use New York as a way to build myself back up again. You have to be honest and I don’t think I am in a position to commit to the team. You have to be enjoying it and I am not.”
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