Former Blades and Owls star changes his boots to help transform Sheffield communities

A well-known former Sheffield footballer has swapped his football boots for steel toe-capped ones to work on the £700m transformation of the city's council-owned housing.

 

Carl Bradshaw, one of few Sheffield-born players in the modern era to play for both United and Wednesday, has become a qualified bricklayer after quitting the game last year.

 

He is now working on Sheffield's huge Decent Homes programme on some of the same estates that his family are from.

 

"I was brought up on the Manor Estate and my dad was from Arbourthorne so it means a lot to me to see the amount of investment and work that is going into housing in Sheffield," said Carl, 37.

 

"I know some of these areas well and I know that this kind of work is something that is needed and that it will be of real benefit to people."

 

Carl works for Lovell - one of Sheffield Homes' contractors - and has been working on the Arbourthorne Estate for around six months.

 

Many homes there are undergoing extensive internal and external refurbishment under the Decent Homes programme, which is being carried out by Sheffield Homes, the Arms Length Management Organisation that manages over 50,000 council-owned properties.

 

Although Carl has many fond memories of his football career, he was quite happy to leave the game when his playing days finally came to an end last season.

 

"I was never interested in staying in football after I stopped playing. I am more of a family man and I can't do with all the backstabbing in the game."

 

Carl, now married with two children, still watches the Blades when he can and regularly plays golf with Dane Whitehouse - a popular former United player.

 

Andy Guest, Business Development Manager for Lovell, said: "As well as making major improvements to the city's housing, the Decent Homes scheme is providing a whole range of job opportunities for local people such as Carl, who joined us as a qualified bricklayer.

 

"We're delighted that he is working with us as one of our team in Sheffield.  In addition, the Decent Homes scheme is offering people the chance to learn new skills through apprenticeships and training placements."