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Ex-Blue Bullard Retires
Monday, 1st Oct 2012 12:39

Former Blue Jimmy Bullard has announced his retirement from professional football due to the knee injury which required surgery twice in two years earlier in his career. The 33-year-old’s Town contract was terminated by mutual consent in August and he subsequently joined the MK Dons, for whom he made only one start and two sub appearances.

Bullard told the League One side’s website that having seen a specialist last week, he had decided to hang up his boots: “My old knee injury has never allowed me to get back to where I want to be as a football player; it’s always hindered me.

“There are a lot of games in this league and I now know my knee won’t allow me to play Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday, it’s not built for that now.

“I want to be out there playing but at the same time I know my knee won’t allow me to play at my best and to keep my place in the team. I’m hindering myself more than I am helping myself for the future.

“In the summer I knew I wanted to give it one last crack and show people what I could do. But what I think with my strong head and what I could physically do are two different things. My head tells me I can do it, but my body tells me, 'no Jim you can’t'.”

Bullard won Town’s Player of the Year award in 2010/11 after a superb loan spell from Hull in which he scored five goals in 16 games. However, having signed a permanent two-year contract last summer after his Tigers deal was terminated, he failed to reach the same standards last season.

The ex-Peterborough, Wigan and Fulham man made just 12 starts — the last in the 4-0 defeat at Burnley in November - and nine sub appearances and scored one goal.

This summer the one-time England call-up was on the periphery during pre-season before he and the club settled the remaining year of his terms.


Photo: Action Images



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Surco72 added 16:07 - Oct 1
Oh and forgot to say good luck for future Jimmy did more in 16 games than a lot of signings did in three or more seasons
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SamWhiteUK added 16:27 - Oct 1
He'll be going into punditry, no doubt. Good luck to him.
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runningout added 16:55 - Oct 1
Good luck Mr Bullard.. cannot see the point in futile posts from some.. letting yourselves down
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oscarwhiting added 17:13 - Oct 1
Can u do the job as a manager!!
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Lightningboy added 18:13 - Oct 1
Brilliant on his day and when his head was right..shame it didn't quite work out here for him..all the best Jimmy.
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neillrumsey added 18:27 - Oct 1
A delight to watch whilst here on loan. Utter Cr** once he'd signed a contract and complete trouble maker. As for media work possible childrens tv with plenty of visual aids..... Jog on
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Mark added 18:38 - Oct 1
I hadn't been properly aware of the extent of his knee injury in that I didn't know it was pushing him to the brink of retirement. It seems a shame from Ipswich's point of view that we paid him off effectively to the end of June 2013 when the player retires in October 2012. I don't suppose there would be any insurance provision for that sort of thing?

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blue979 added 19:02 - Oct 1
rock,paper,scissors anyone ?

bring him back in the backroom staff, would be great for moral.
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Talbs77 added 19:35 - Oct 1
When he was on loan he was absolute class, was weird when he signed he was complete sh*te!

Best of luck to him.
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Berts_chin added 20:05 - Oct 1
Whilst on loan the classiest player we'd seen at Ipswich for a long, long time. Almost single handedly saved our Championship status. Unfortunately the system changed after he signed permanently and it didn't suit him - not Jimmy's fault.
As great a character as he was a player, a shame that there aren't more like him.
Thanks and good luck.
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hairbear added 20:27 - Oct 1
I Feel Jimmy gets a bit of unfair stick over last year. No he didnt start well and was rightly dropped after his newcastle jolly but hardly got a look in after that. No chance of his form picking up if hes not playing. I for one enjoyed watching "oh jimmy, jimmy".
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Taricco_Fan added 20:45 - Oct 1
Quite a frustrating player, Jimmy. He was blessed with creative ability and vision but perhaps lacked the correct attitude and level of application required to reach his true potential. He was late into professional football and early to leave it. Obviously his injury was insurmountable in the end.

Anyway, I wish him all the best for the future. I'm sure we haven't seen the last of Bullard.
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brockleyblueboy added 00:39 - Oct 2
I thought he was great but when players flush their careers up their nose erm I mean down the toilet, it just saddens me.

Surely there needs to be better attention paid to players when they get serious injuries, aren't playing week in week out and get "bored", and the their careers slowly go down hill.

Prime example Martin Reuser, never did get over the dreaded bottle :-(

Next stop for Jimmy, extreme fishing with Robson green cameo :-(
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chripswich added 13:07 - Oct 2
he represent all that is bad about some pro footballers..and to all those who say he saved us from league 1? paaa!! he didnt give a monkey's he was playing for a contract..he got one didnt he!! he mugged us right off after that..

At least dick turpin had the decency to wear a mask!!

wrote this at the time..worth another airing maybe?

"I'm the dandy highwayman who you're now too scared to mention
Ive spent your cash on looking flash and grabbing your attention
The devil take your stereo and your record collection!
but i'll just take my contract fee for my growing old age pension!

Stand and deliver your money and your wife! (thanks for the offer)
look in the mirror you mugs, i was never here for life!

I'm the dandy highwayman so sick of easy fashion
My footie boots, Curly roots, that people think so dashing
But what's the point of kicking balls when theres so much else worth taking?
It's kind of tough to tell a scruff - with the kind of dosh I'm making

Stand and deliver your money and your wife! (thanks for the offer)
look in the mirror you mugs, i was never here for life!

And even though I fooled your souls
Your conscience will be mine
All mine

football pro's are highwaymen, we'll give you our excuses
Of deep meaning philosophies - but ha! only the fan loses
We're the dandy highwaymen and here's our invitation
throw your morals overboard and join our insect nation"

Stand and deliver your money and your wife! (thanks for the offer)
look in the mirror you mugs, i was never here for life!

And even though I fooled your souls
Your conscience will be mine
All mine

Da diddley qa qa da diddley qa qa (im off to the bank)
Da diddley qa qa da diddley qa qa (i really dont give a stuff)

Stand and deliver your money and your Wife!!!



song ends...good riddance!!!
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kerryblue added 13:17 - Oct 2
Good luck Jimmy,you can take Chopra on the rattle anytime you want now
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Wickets added 15:20 - Oct 2
How did he pass his Town medical? must have been the same Doc as Ingmasson!!
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BuckieBlue added 17:30 - Oct 2
let's remember the good times...
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