To fulfil their immediate fixture commitments, they needed to find several good players at short notice, and turned to Bishop Auckland for help.
After a few months, having recovered from his injuries received in the crash, United's manager Matt Busby returned to work and was impressed by Bradley.
He was signed as a part-time professional in November 1958, taking a job as a teacher in Stretford, and made his first-team debut for United against his old club, Bolton Wanderers.
He left Bury after a couple of seasons, and after brief spells with Northwich Victoria, Macclesfield Town and Bangor City, he retired in 1966.
After his retirement from football he had a long career as a headteacher, latterly at Deane School in Bolton, and worked with the Manchester United ex-players association.