Bridie was born in Greenock in 1857 and was educated in Madras College, St. Andrews, before moving to Wales.
In the 1881 census he was described as a rope agent and was living in the centre of Cardiff with his wife Marion.
During the 1885/1886 season, Bridie had found work in Bradford, and left behind his connections with Welsh rugby.
Still wishing to continue playing rugby he joined local club Manningham FC.
[2] The Manningham supporters, created a chant based on the derogatory nursery rhyme, Taffy was a Welshman; despite the fact that Bridie was deemed not to be Welsh by the Scottish rugby fraternity.