Bend It Like Bullard

In an increasingly toxic and humourless football world, an hour in Bullard’s company is great therapy. Apropos of nothing, he reveals he bought his house without realising it has no mobile phone reception. He discusses his passion for fishing. He orders tea and gets brought coffee. He burns his fingers on the toast. Funny things happen in the orbit of Planet Jimmy. At one point an elderly man tentatively approaches, presumably in search of a photo or autograph. “Would you mind talking a little more quietly, please?” he asks Bullard. “You’re really annoying my wife.” - The Observer

East London-born Jimmy Bullard joined the club he supported as a boy, West Ham, from non-League Gravesend & Northfleet in 1999. He never played a first team game for The Hammers and moved to Peterborough United on a free transfer in 2001, where he started to make a name for himself under manager Barry Fry. A move to Wigan Athletic followed in 2003 and Bullard played his part in securing promotion to the Premier League in 2005 and a League Cup final appearance in 2006. He left The Latics to join Fulham but his time there was blighted by injury, as was his spell at Hull City, the club he joined in 2009. Brief spells at Ipswich Town and Milton Keynes Dons ensued, but Bullard brought his career to an end by announcing his retirement in October 2012. As far as international football was concerned, Bullard was called into the England squad in August 2008 for the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia, but did not feature in either match. In September 2016 he was appointed manager of Leatherhead.