Martin John Bullock (born 5 March 1975) is an English former professional footballer and manager who is the head coach of the New Zealand U17 team and a Football Development Officer at the Northern Football Federation. He previously played for five league teams over fifteen years, making 452 league appearances. He also won a cap for the England under-21 side in 1996.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Martin John Bullock[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 5 March 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | Derby, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | New Zealand U17 (head coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1993 | Eastwood Town | ? | (?) |
| 1993–2001 | Barnsley | 185 | (4) |
| 2000 | → Port Vale (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2001–2005 | Blackpool | 153 | (4) |
| 2005–2007 | Macclesfield Town | 83 | (11) |
| 2007–2008 | Wycombe Wanderers | 25 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | Waitakere United | ||
| Total | 452+ | (20+) | |
| International career | |||
| 1996 | England U21 | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2020– | New Zealand U17 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Bullock played as a midfielder and began his career at non-League Eastwood Town, before earning a move to Barnsley in 1993. In an eight-year association with the club he played almost 200 league games for the club, helping them to the Premier League at the end of the 1996–97 season. Loaned out to Port Vale in 2000, the following year he transferred to Blackpool. He enjoyed a highly successful four years with the club, lifting the Football League Trophy in 2002 and 2004. He then played for Macclesfield Town between 2005 and 2007, before ending his professional career with Wycombe Wanderers in 2008. He later turned out for leading New Zealand side Waitakere United, helping them to three Premiership titles, before his retirement in June 2012.
Club career edit
Bullock began his career with Northern Premier League First Division side Eastwood Town. He turned professional after a £15,000 move to Barnsley in 1993. He remained at Oakwell for eight years, making 218 appearances in all competitions for the "Tykes". He played 28 league games, mostly as a substitute, in the club's historic 1996–97 campaign, which saw them finish second in the First Division. In the subsequent 1997–98 Premier League season he played 33 top-flight games. Barnsley were relegated, though Bullock remained a key part of their 1998–99 campaign. He found himself out of favour in 1999–2000 however, making just six starts, five of which were in the League Cup. He was utilised more frequently in 2000–01, after spending February 2000 on loan at Second Division Port Vale, for whom he scored once against Queens Park Rangers.[3]
In September 2001 he joined Steve McMahon's Second Division newcomers Blackpool on a free transfer.[4] He became a key player for the club, making 43 league appearances in his maiden season there. His contribution was particularly telling in the semi-final of the Football League Trophy, as he scored the golden goal winner against Huddersfield Town that ensured the club a date at the Millennium Stadium.[5] He went on to play the full ninety minutes of the club's triumph over Cambridge United in the final.[6]
He enjoyed a similarly successful campaign in 2002–03, and was offered a two-year contract extension in March 2003.[7] He was later named in the PFA Second Division Team of the Year for his performances throughout the season.[8] The 2003–04 campaign was also memorable for Bullock, as he helped Blackpool to lift the League Trophy for the second time in three seasons, following victory over Southend United.[9] He made a further 28 league appearances for the club in 2004–05, but was told by new boss Colin Hendry he would not be offered a new contract.[10] He signed for Brian Horton's Macclesfield Town in June 2005.[11] In his first season with the club he made 40 appearances in League Two. He made a further 43 appearances in his second season at Moss Rose. In May 2007 he switched clubs to Wycombe Wanderers, penning a two-year deal.[12][13] He made 27 appearances in all competitions for the club in 2007–08, before he announced his retirement from the professional game in May 2008.[14]
In 2009, he made a late move to New Zealand to play for Waitakere United. Following a second-place finish in 2009–10, Waitakere went on to reach the final of the OFC Champions League, and Bullock played both games of the 4–2 aggregate defeat to Papua New Guinea side Hekari United.[15] Waitakere went on to win the championship in 2010–11 after defeating rivals Auckland City. They retained their title in 2011–12 with a 4–1 win over Team Wellington.[16] He retired at the age of 37 in June 2012.[17]
International career edit
Whilst with Barnsley, Bullock won a cap for the England under-21 side in 1996.
Coaching career edit
Bullock was appointed head coach of the New Zealand U17 team and a Football Development Officer at the Northern Football Federation in March 2020.[18]
Personal life edit
Bullock is married to Michelle Bullock with two children Lillie and Maggie and is focusing on earning his coaching badges to coach professionally.[17]
Career statistics edit
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barnsley | 1993–94 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994–95 | First Division | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 1995–96 | First Division | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 46 | 1 | |
| 1996–97 | First Division | 28 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 1 | |
| 1997–98 | Premier League | 33 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| 1998–99 | First Division | 32 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 42 | 2 | |
| 1999–2000 | First Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2000–01 | First Division | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| Total | 185 | 4 | 15 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 219 | 7 | ||
| Port Vale (loan) | 1999–2000 | First Division | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Blackpool | 2001–02 | Second Division | 43 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 55 | 5 |
| 2002–03 | Second Division | 38 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| 2003–04 | Second Division | 44 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 57 | 1 | |
| 2004–05 | League One | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| Total | 153 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 185 | 7 | ||
| Macclesfield Town | 2005–06 | League Two | 40 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 48 | 8 |
| 2006–07 | League Two | 43 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 4 | |
| Total | 83 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 95 | 12 | ||
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2007–08 | League Two | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Career total | 452 | 20 | 33 | 3 | 47 | 4 | 532 | 27 | ||
Honours edit
Barnsley
- Football League First Division second-place promotion: 1996–97
Blackpool
Waitakere United
Individual
References edit
- ^ "Martin Bullock". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 1999/00". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- ^ "Port Vale 1 Queens Park Rangers 1". Sporting Life. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ^ "Bullock pens Blackpool deal". BBC Sport. 5 September 2001. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
- ^ "Blackpool reach LDV final". BBC Sport. 12 February 2002. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ a b Fletcher, Paul (24 March 2002). "Blackpool lift LDV Vans Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ "Bullock pens Blackpool deal". BBC Sport. 13 March 2003. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
- ^ a b "Wigan dominate PFA team". BBC Sport. 28 April 2003. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ a b "Blackpool 2–0 Southend". BBC Sport. 21 March 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ "Winger Bullock to leave Blackpool". BBC Sport. 19 May 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
- ^ "Silkmen bring in four new faces". BBC Sport. 25 June 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
- ^ "Ince rings changes at Moss Rose". BBC Sport. 19 May 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
- ^ "Wycombe close to Bullock capture". BBC Sport. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ "Martin Bullock Retires". wycombewanderers.co.uk. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ a b "Oceania Football Confederation". www.oceaniafootball.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Waitakere seal three-in-a-row". nzfc.co.nz. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Bullock hangs up his boots". waitakereunited.co.nz. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
- ^ "Appointments boost talent development". www.nzfootball.co.nz. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ Martin Bullock at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- ^ Martin Bullock at Soccerbase
