Date / Year of birth: 5th September 1981

Position: Striker

Season of first appearance: 2005/06

Season of last appearance: 2006/07

Also played for: West Ham United (0), Tottenham Hotspur (0), Queens Park Rangers (0), Swindon Town (0+10,0), Canvey Island, Heybridge Swifts, Hornchurch, Braintree Town, Billericay Town, Farnborough Town, Thurrock, Aldershot Town, Grays Athletic, Eastleigh, Chelmsford City, Bishop's Stortford, Concord Rangers, Harlow Town, Tooting & Mitcham United, Basildon United, East Thurrock United, Enfield Town, Great Wakering Rovers, VCD Athletic and Burnham Ramblers

Nomadic 5' 10" tall attacker born in Basildon who started his career at West Ham. Bertie progressed through the Hammers junior ranks and played alongside the likes of Michael Carrick and Joe Cole in the side that won the FA Youth Cup in 1999. Bertie scored three goals in the two legs of the Final win over Coventry.

During the 1999/00 season he had a trial at Tottenham and Bertie partnered Peter Crouch up front in his appearances for Spurs' Under-19's side.

After being released by West Ham at the end of 1999/00 Bertie joined Queens Park Rangers and played for their youth team throughout the 2000/01 campaign before being released at the end of the season as part of a cost-cutting measure that also saw several other players including future Margate midfielder Terry McFlynn leave the R's.

In the summer of 2001 Bertie had a trial at Luton before signing a three month contract with 2nd Division (later League One) club Swindon at the start of August 2001. He told Swindon's website "I love football, I love being a striker and I love going out onto the pitch and try to entertain people."

Bertie made his debut for the Robins as an 89th minute substitute in a 0-0 draw with Peterborough at the County Ground on 11.8.01 and after making six further sub appearances, most of them only lasting a few minutes, his contract was extended in October 2001. Bertie's new deal was set to end in August 2002 and he told the Swindon website "I am ambitious but I also recognise that I am very lucky to be paid for what I enjoy." Bertie had three more outings from the bench, taking his overall tally to ten, before the end of November 2001 but after coming on in the 87th minute of a 3-1 home win over Hartlepool on 17.11.01 he didn't feature in the Robins' first team again.

In January 2002 he joined Southend on trial after deciding he wanted to leave Swindon but after only a day Bertie returned to the County Ground having realised he'd made a mistake by considering a move.

He was eventually released at the end of the 2001/02 season and the 'This Is Swindon Town FC' website took the opportunity to recall some of Bertie's more unusual antics during his time with the club. The site wrote "Remember the time he went for a hair cut at a dog salon or the time he locked himself out and phoned the police ? I phoned him this week for a chat but as soon as he answered he burst into a Beatles song and that was all I got out of him. It was completely and utterly bizarre."

In August 2002 Bertie joined Isthmian League Premier Division outfit Canvey Island and went on to make 38 appearances (28 from the bench) during the 2002/03 campaign as the club finished as runners-up in the league. He scored 12 goals and Bertie's tally included Canvey's quickest-ever league hat-trick. He scored all three in less than four minutes as Canvey routed Enfield 10-1 on 26.4.03.

He fell out of favour at Canvey before the 2003/04 season began and spent most of the first half of the campaign on loan at Isthmian League Premier Division club Heybridge. Bertie had two spells there - from August to September 2003 and then from December 2003 to January 2004 - and scored ten goals from 12 league starts including a hat-trick in a 4-0 home win over Carshalton on 20.9.03. He hadn't played at all for Canvey during 2003/04 when he joined big-spending Hornchurch for a fee of £17,500 in January 2004, soon after his second loan at Heybridge had finished. Bertie went on to score twice from 16 Isthmian League Premier Division appearances (one as sub) for the Urchins before the end of the season and also scored two goals in cup ties.

At the start of the 2004/05 campaign Bertie was loaned to Braintree where he scored four goals from nine Isthmian League Premier Division outings.

After briefly returning to Hornchurch he then joined Billericay on loan in September 2004 and played alongside future Margate players Danny Hockton, Danny Kerrigan, Pat Sappleton, Chris Stowe and Robin Trott there. Bertie scored five goals for the Isthmian League Premier Division outfit before making another brief return to Hornchurch.

At the start of December 2004 Bertie was released by the Urchins and signed for Heybridge where he'd spent time on loan previously. He scored three goals from nine Isthmian League Premier Division outings for the Swifts and struck twice in cup ties before moving on to Conference club Farnborough in February 2005.

After only a handful of appearances for Farnborough Bertie was on the move again in March 2005. He joined Thurrock of the Conference South and finished the 2004/05 season there.

At the end of July 2005 Bertie signed a one month contract with Aldershot and he featured in their first five Conference games of the 2005/06 campaign before being released at the end of August 2005.

He then joined Grays, also of the Conference, on a non-contract basis and they immediately loaned him to Margate with the caveat that he could be recalled at any time.

Bertie made his debut for Margate in a Isthmian League Premier Division game at Worthing on 3.9.05 and scored what the Thanet Times described as a "wonder goal". He picked the ball up on the left flank, beat his man and then unleashed a shot into the far top corner from the corner of the penalty area. The match finished 1-1 and manager Chris Kinnear told the paper "He played well but we've only got him on a game-to-game basis." Bertie then played in a 1-1 draw with Fisher at Hartsdown Park on 6.9.05 before being recalled by Grays.

He made his debut for Grays as a substitute in a Conference game against Kidderminster on 10.9.05 and Bertie scored a last-minute equaliser to level the scores at 2-2 when his inswinging corner was helped into the net by the visitors keeper. He made three more sub appearances for Grays before the end of September 2005 but then fell out of favour.

Towards the end of October 2005 Bertie returned to Margate on loan and his first outing came in a 2-1 defeat against Fisher at Dulwich on 24.10.05. He also featured in Margate's next game - a 1-0 defeat at Braintree on 29.10.05 - before going back to Grays once more.

Bertie couldn't break into Grays' first team again and in December 2005 he was back at Hartsdown Park having signed an 18 month contract with Margate. He became captain and the Thanet Times said his "quality stood out" in his first match back - a 1-0 home defeat against Leyton on 10.12.05. The paper wrote ""twisting and turning, picking passes and trying his luck from range, the ex-Grays man looks a top addition to the side Chris Kinnear is building" and added "he had the determination of a bloke who'd been at the club for years". Chris Kinnear told the paper "Bertie's a great signing for us. He had lots of offers but he's totally committed to the club - he would have signed for longer if he could. I've known him a while and he wanted to come and play for me at Margate. Signing Bertie shows we're serious." He added "He's been prepared to drop down a couple of leagues and I think signing someone like him will make a massive difference."

In his next outing on 17.12.05 Bertie got both Margate's goals, one from the penalty spot, in a 2-1 win at Hendon and the Thanet Times asked "anyone get the feeling we might be talking about Bertie Brayley a fair bit over the next few months ?" Chris Kinnear said "Bertie was exceptional again, he's doing what I expected of him. He's a player who needs to be appreciated. He's like all of us. We all want nice things said about us." Bertie was a fixture in the side from then on and the Isle of Thanet Gazette felt his "class again stood out" during a 1-1 draw with Folkestone at Hartsdown Park on 26.12.05. The paper said "one moment when he emerged with the ball from an impossible situation by the corner flag, shaking off the attention of two defenders before getting in a shot on goal, really summed up his talent".

In its report on a 3-1 defeat at Redbridge on 2.1.06 the Gazette wrote "nobody could criticise Bertie Brayley's effort - he gave it everything" and the Thanet Times said he "worked ridiculously hard" in a 5-2 home defeat against Staines on 14.1.06. The paper said "he really is some player" and added it was a "shame he can't be everywhere at once". On 21.1.06 Bertie scored in a 2-2 draw with Slough at Windsor & Eton and he turned in a superb performance in a 2-1 win at AFC Wimbledon on 11.2.06, creating one of Danny Hockton's two goals with a fantastic piece of skill on the left wing. Bertie then got his fifth goal of the season in a 4-0 win over Wealdstone at Northwood on 25.2.06.

He was sent off in a 1-1 draw with Windsor & Eton at Hartsdown Park on 4.4.06 after an altercation with an opponent and that match was the last of Chris Kinnear's first spell as Margate's manager. Bertie played in the next three games but after a 1-1 draw at Folkestone on 17.4.06 he missed the last two matches of the season due to suspension. He finished the campaign having scored five goals from a total of 27 appearances during his three stints at Margate.

In May 2006 Bertie was transfer-listed and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said new player-manager Robin Trott's decision "shocked fans". Trott told the paper "I've had to let him go. It was a mutual decision. It's a long trek from Canvey Island, where he lives, and basically he didn't fit in my plans." The Gazette said Bertie had "dazzled with his early performances in a Margate shirt".

On 20.5.06, shortly after being listed by Margate, Bertie made his debut for the England Learning Disability team in a 6-1 win over Germany in Xanten.

In July 2006 the Thanet Times reported that he wasn't even training with Margate but on 19.8.06 Bertie played for the reserves in their first game - a 2-2 draw with Ramsgate Reserves at Hartsdown Park. A few days later Robin Trott told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "We've had no offers for Bertie at the moment and that probably tells a story. Is there a way back ? I don't know. He's on the list because we want to get rid of him - all the players are on the list for a reason. You never know but at the moment I can't see it."

Bertie was still a Margate player when he took part in the Learning Disability World Championship in Germany during September 2006. He scored five times in an 11-1 win over Mexico on 1.9.06 and England eventually lost to Saudi Arabia in the quarter finals.

After returning to England Bertie found himself back at Margate as no buyer had been found for him and on 16.9.06 he played for the reserves again in a 3-1 win over Dartford. On 22.9.06 Robin Trott spoke to the Isle of Thanet Gazette about Bertie the day before a home game against AFC Wimbledon and said "I might bring him in, it depends how I feel. My questions about him have been answered - there's been no interest. I don't think I'm wrong about many players. Sometimes players need a kick in the teeth, to show they're not as good as they think they are. If players like that can sort their head out and sort their game out they might even play at a higher level."

Trott decided to include Bertie in his squad for the Wimbledon match and after 56 minutes he came on as a substitute for the injured Danny Hockton. The Thanet Times said "it's been a funny couple of months for Brayley" and added "to be fair he did look interested". The game ended 0-0 and afterwards Robin Trott told the paper that Bertie had "come out of the dark side". Trott said "His attitude has been good lately, I'm pleased with him. I don't want to see people down in the dumps - I never wanted that."

The Wimbledon match turned out to be Bertie's last for the club and on 29.9.06 he joined Conference South outfit Eastleigh after Margate released him with 18 months of his contract still to run. The club issued a statement that said "in order to meet the demands of the player the Club was forced to buy out his contract" and the Thanet Times described it as being "paid to leave". Robin Trott told the paper "I wish him all the best. Bertie's a lovely fella and I've had some good times with him. It's just he didn't feature in my plans.".

Bertie only made five appearances for Eastleigh without scoring before moving on to Braintree, also of the Conference South, at the start of November 2006. It was his second spell with the club having been on loan there some two years earlier.

Bertie left Braintree at the end of the 2006/07 season and joined Isthmian League Premier Division outfit Chelmsford in the summer of 2007. He helped the Clarets to win the league title by scoring 19 goals from 53 outings (ten as sub) in all competitions. A personal highlight for Bertie came on 22.12.07 when he scored four times in a 5-1 home win over Margate. He went on to make a further 33 appearances for Chelmsford and scored 11 goals during their first Conference South campaign but in February 2009 Bertie was released along with former Margate defender Greg Oates.

After leaving Chelmsford Bertie had a short trial with Conference club Ebbsfleet before returning to Eastleigh. He only spent a few weeks back at the Conference South outfit before making a surprising return to Chelmsford at the end of March 2009, just weeks after being let go by the Essex club. Bertie was released again at the end of the 2008/09 season.

On 18.7.09 he scored for his old club Grays in a 4-2 friendly win at Margate and Bertie then featured in friendlies for Chelmsford before eventually signing for Conference South side Bishop's Stortford before the 2009/10 season proper began.

In November 2009 Stortford announced that Bertie was going to be released as they couldn't afford his wages but after a few weeks out of the team he ended up playing for them again towards the end of December 2009.

In March 2010 Bertie started a third spell with Braintree and finished the 2009/10 campaign there.

He signed for Isthmian League Premier Division newcomers Concord Rangers in July 2010 and Bertie scored three goals from nine league outings for them (one as sub) before linking up with Billericay in October 2010.

It was his second spell with the Isthmian League Premier Division club and Bertie scored five goals prior to joining Harlow of the Isthmian League Division 1 North in February 2011.

He scored nine times for Harlow before the end of the 2010/11 season but left the club at the end of the campaign.

In the summer of 2011 Bertie featured in friendlies for his former clubs Grays and Bishop's Stortford as well as playing in a charity game for an Essex United side in August. He ended up starting the 2011/12 season with Heybridge where he'd previously had two loan stints and another spell during 2004/05. On 24.8.11 Bertie had a penalty saved in a 1-1 draw with Needham Market in the Isthmian League Division 1 North and it was reportedly his first failure from the spot for 12 years.

After scoring three goals from nine league outings (one as sub) for Heybridge Bertie briefly returned to Conference South football at the end of October 2011 football when he signed for Thurrock. It was his second spell there but in December 2011 he made a switch to Isthmian League Premier Division club Tooting & Mitcham United. Bertie became the Terrors' player-coach under new manager Kenny Brown and stayed with the club until being released in March 2012. He'd scored three times in 11 league appearances (three as sub).

Bertie finished the 2011/12 campaign back at Harlow and scored once from seven league outings (one as sub) but he left the club at the end of the season.

In the summer of 2012 he joined his hometown club Basildon who played in the Essex Senior League at the time.

At the start of November 2012 Bertie returned to the Isthmian League Premier Division when he signed for East Thurrock and he made his debut for them in a 2-1 home defeat against Hampton & Richmond on 3.11.12 but he only played in one more league game before departing.

Bertie then went back to Basildon and in February 2013 he became the club's player-manager. He stepped down from the post in May 2013.

In July 2013 Bertie rejoined Conference South club Chelmsford - his third spell there.

He linked up with the 13th Essex-based club of his career in December 2013 when he joined Enfield Town and on 28.12.13 Bertie was in their side for a 1-0 defeat at Margate in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

At the end of March 2014 he signed for Essex Senior League outfit Great Wakering and the club also agreed a dual-registration deal for Bertie that would allow him to play for Division 1 North side VCD.

On 26.4.14 he scored as VCD beat visitors Romford 6-0 to clinch the Division 1 North title.

At the start of August 2014 Bertie was appointed as player-manager of Division 1 North club Burnham Ramblers.