Martin Bullock Explained

Martin Bullock should not be confused with Martin Bulloch.

Martin Bullock
Fullname:Martin John Bullock
Birth Date:5 March 1975
Birth Place:Derby, England
Height:[1]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:New Zealand U17 (head coach)
Years1:1992–1993
Clubs1:Eastwood Town
Caps1:?
Goals1:?
Years2:1993–2001
Clubs2:Barnsley
Caps2:185
Goals2:4
Years3:2000
Clubs3:Port Vale (loan)
Caps3:6
Goals3:1
Years4:2001–2005
Clubs4:Blackpool
Caps4:153
Goals4:4
Years5:2005–2007
Clubs5:Macclesfield Town
Caps5:83
Goals5:11
Years6:2007–2008
Clubs6:Wycombe Wanderers
Caps6:25
Goals6:0
Years7:2009–2012
Clubs7:Waitakere United
Totalcaps:452+
Totalgoals:20+
Nationalyears1:1996
Nationalteam1:England U21
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2020–
Managerclubs1:New Zealand U17

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.

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

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.[2]

In September 2001, he joined Steve McMahon's Second Division newcomers Blackpool on a free transfer.[3] 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.[4] He went on to play the full ninety minutes of the club's triumph over Cambridge United in the final.[5]

He enjoyed a similarly successful campaign in 2002–03 and was offered a two-year contract extension in March 2003.[6] He was later named in the PFA Second Division Team of the Year for his performances throughout the season.[7] 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.[8] He made a further 28 league appearances for the club in 2004–05. The new boss Colin Hendry told him he would not be offered a new contract.[9] He signed for Brian Horton's Macclesfield Town in June 2005.[10] 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.[11] [12] 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.[13]

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.[14] 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.[15] He retired at the age of 37 in June 2012.[16]

International career

Whilst with Barnsley, Bullock won a cap for the England under-21 side in 1996.

Coaching career

Bullock was appointed head coach of the New Zealand U17 team and a Football Development Officer at the Northern Football Federation in March 2020.[17]

Personal life

Bullock is married to Michelle Bullock and has two children, Lillie and Maggie. He is focusing on earning his coaching badges to coach professionally.[16]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barnsley1993–94First Division00001010
1994–95First Division2901010310
1995–96First Division4112030461
1996–97First Division2802120321
1997–98Premier League3305020400
1998–99First Division3225250422
1999–2000First Division40005090
2000–01First Division1810000181
Total18541531902197
Port Vale (loan)1999–2000First Division61000061
Blackpool2001–02Second Division4324083555
2002–03Second Division3813020431
2003–04Second Division44130100571
2004–05League One2801010300
Total15341102131857
Macclesfield Town2005–06League Two4072061488
2006–07League Two4344000474
Total831160619512
Wycombe Wanderers2007–08League Two2501010270
Career total4522033347453227

Honours

Barnsley

Blackpool

2001–02,[5] 2003–04[8]

Waitakere United

2010–11, 2011–12[15]

Individual

2002–03 Second Division[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FootballSquads - Port Vale - 1999/00 . www.footballsquads.co.uk . 24 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Port Vale 1 Queens Park Rangers 1. Sporting Life. 4 May 2012.
  3. Web site: Bullock pens Blackpool deal. 5 September 2001. BBC Sport. 12 May 2009.
  4. News: Blackpool reach LDV final. 12 February 2002. BBC Sport. 29 June 2011.
  5. News: Blackpool lift LDV Vans Trophy. Fletcher. Paul. 24 March 2002. BBC Sport. 29 June 2011.
  6. Web site: Bullock pens Blackpool deal. 13 March 2003. BBC Sport. 12 May 2009.
  7. News: Wigan dominate PFA team. 28 April 2003. BBC Sport. 29 June 2011.
  8. News: Blackpool 2–0 Southend. 21 March 2004. BBC Sport. 29 June 2011.
  9. Web site: Winger Bullock to leave Blackpool . 19 May 2005. BBC Sport. 12 May 2009.
  10. Web site: Silkmen bring in four new faces . 25 June 2005. BBC Sport. 12 May 2009.
  11. Web site: Ince rings changes at Moss Rose . 19 May 2007. BBC Sport. 12 May 2009.
  12. News: Wycombe close to Bullock capture . 10 May 2007. BBC Sport. 29 June 2011.
  13. News: Martin Bullock Retires. 2 May 2008. wycombewanderers.co.uk. 29 June 2011.
  14. Web site: Oceania Football Confederation. www.oceaniafootball.com. 20 November 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150504164448/http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/844b092d-9c79-4997-9bd6-85027862d1a5/Default.aspx. 4 May 2015.
  15. Web site: Waitakere seal three-in-a-row. nzfc.co.nz. 4 May 2012.
  16. Web site: Bullock hangs up his boots. waitakereunited.co.nz. 27 April 2014.
  17. News: Appointments boost talent development . 20 September 2023 . www.nzfootball.co.nz . 17 March 2020.