A biography for Jimmy Bullardhasn’t been written yet.
“If I have a keeper who can play like a central midfielder, then I have 11 players rather than 10. Ive got a deep sweeper.”
“I know how far a fiver can go in non-League, let alone 100,000! So it is a lot of money. That money can be spread across the country to grassroots football which is fantastic. It can help them with things like electricity bills, new kits, new footballs and lawnmowers.”
“I have always been interested in entertaining, scoring goals, making things happen, doing things off the cuff, and Chris Coleman offered me that.”
“Its either fishing rods or golf clubs for me, one or the other.”
“I go to matches to watch players who entertain. I still watch old footage of Paul Gascoigne.”
“I'm a kid really, I'm 100mph in your face and fishing just slows you down and just it's nice, tranquil.”
“But in football my main aim was to become a pro. I became one and played in the first division. But then I reached the Premier League and before I knew it I was in the England squad.”
“Ive never read a book.”
“Fans booing when a ball was passed backwards used to spin me out. Theyd rather cheer a right winger, running 100mph down the flank and then crossing into the stand. Thats no good.”
“I struggled to get into any sort of team as a kid, but I struggled along and, though it's amazing how long it has actually taken me, I am finally in the Premiership and to play against my old mates from West Ham, the team I supported as a boy, was unbelievable.”
“I was a painter and decorator with my dad for three years.”
“In my head I always wanted to be a manager.”
“I know a lot about grassroots football.”
“I was still playing for Gravesend at 18 and it seemed that every other kid had been snapped up except me.”
“What do I think about when I'm fishing? I don't really know. Mate, I just think about how I'm going to catch my next fish.”
“Youre not exactly going to do a prank on the hardest player at your football club, when you know hes going to give you a wallop.”
“I've always been one of those players that when I went to the training ground, I'd always have my eye on the fans.”
“Since I finished in football Ive had no sport in my life, no football. Ive always been geared towards something for the weekend, always had competition.”
“I never felt any pressure to be funny. A lot of the funny stuff I did was more off-the-cuff. I might be bored with an hour-and-a-half until afternoon training and itd be a chance to mess about.”
“Im not saying I didnt enjoy the England experience because I really did. It was beyond my wildest dreams to be part of the squad and, without a doubt it was the best moment of my career.”