Dannie Bulman

Dannie Mark Bulman (born 24 January 1979) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League Two club Crawley Town. He has played in the Football League with Wycombe Wanderers, Oxford United, Crawley Town and AFC Wimbledon. He is currently the oldest active player in the Football League.

Dannie Bulman
Bulman playing for Oxford United in 2010
Personal information
Full name Dannie Mark Bulman[1]
Date of birth (1979-01-24) 24 January 1979[2]
Place of birth Ashford, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Crawley Town
Number 21
Youth career
0000–1997 Ashford Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1998 Ashford Town
1998–2004 Wycombe Wanderers 202 (14)
2004–2006 Stevenage Borough 80 (3)
2006 → Crawley Town (loan) 37 (4)
2007–2009 Crawley Town 89 (5)
2009–2011 Oxford United 47 (0)
2010–2011 → Crawley Town (loan) 9 (1)
2011–2014 Crawley Town 138 (4)
2014–2017 AFC Wimbledon 121 (4)
2017– Crawley Town 108 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:51, 3 January 2021 (UTC)

Bulman started his senior career at Ashford Town, before joining Second Division side Wycombe Wanderers in 1998, where he would remain for six years before being released in 2004. Following his release by Wycombe Wanderers, Bulman joined Stevenage Borough, where he would remain for two full seasons before joining Crawley Town on loan in September 2006 and later on a permanent deal in January 2007.

After two-and-a-half seasons at Crawley, he joined Oxford United in the summer of 2009, and was promoted to League Two in his first season at the club following victory in the Conference Premier play-off Final against York City. Bulman returned to Crawley on loan in September 2010, before signing on a permanent basis in January 2011, as Crawley would get promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history that season. He joined AFC Wimbledon in 2014, before returning to Crawley Town in 2017.

Career

Early career

Bulman was born in Ashford in Surrey.[3] He made his senior debut for Ashford Town at the age of 15 before spending a further four years at the club.[4]

Wycombe Wanderers

Having had a trial period with the club in February 1998,[5] Bulman joined Wycombe Wanderers in the summer of 1998 for a fee of £10,000.[4][6] Bulman made his debut as a late substitute in a 1–1 draw at home to Bristol Rovers on 31 August 1998, and within 15 seconds of coming on the pitch, he scored as Lee Jones' clearance had deflected off his buttocks and into the net.[7][8] Bulman went on to make a further 10 appearances for the club across the 1998–99 season.[9] Bulman spent six years at the club and played in an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool in 2001.[4]

Stevenage Borough and Crawley Town

He transferred to non-league Stevenage Borough in 2004 after his contract at Wycombe Wanderers expired.[10] Bulman's competitive debut for Stevenage came on 14 August 2004, playing the entirety of a 3–1 defeat away to Dagenham & Redbridge on 14 August 2004.[11][12]

He joined Crawley on a three-month loan in September 2006, with a recall clause after 30 days.[13] His debut for the club came as a substitute on 2 September 2006 in a 2–0 defeat at home to Northwich Victoria.[14] After making 15 league appearances on loan at Crawley, scoring thrice,[15] he left Stevenage after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent in early December 2007.[16] Bulman joined Crawley Town on a permanent basis in January 2007.[17]

Oxford United and return to Crawley Town
Bulman with Oxford United in October 2009

He signed for Oxford United in May 2009 on a two-year contract.[18] He made his competitive debut for the club on 8 August 2009 in a 2–1 home victory against York City on 8 August 2009.[19][20] Bulman made 42 appearances across the regular season with Oxford United,[20] winning the Players' Player of the Year award,[21] as they finished third and qualified for the Conference play-offs. Bulman appearedin both legs of the play-off semi-final as they defeated Rushden & Diamonds 3–1 on aggregate,[22][23] prior to Bulman starting in Oxford's 3–1 victory over York City in the final, resulting in promotion to League Two.[24][25]

After eight appearances for Oxford in all competitions during the 2010–11 season,[26] he returned to Crawley Town on a three-month-long loan in September 2010.[27] In response to his return to the club, manager Steve Evans said that he was 'delighted he wanted to come back here'.[27] In January 2011, he agreed to sign permanently for Crawley on a free transfer, with the contract lasting until summer 2012.[28][29] Bulman's first appearance of this spell with Crawley came on 1 January 2011 in a 3–1 victory at home to Eastbourne Borough.[26] He won promotion to the Football League with Crawley after they won the Conference in the 2010–11 season,[30] whilst they also reached the fifth round of the FA Cup, before being knocked out by Manchester United.[31] He made 37 appearances in all competitions for Crawlry across both spells at the club during the 2010–11 season.[26]

The 2011–12 season saw Crawley promoted again, this time to League One as they finished 3rd in League Two.[32] Bulman appeared in 48 matches across all competitions and scored three goals.[33]

Bulman with Crawley Town in November 2013

AFC Wimbledon

In June 2014, Bulman signed for AFC Wimbledon on a free transfer.[34] He made his debut for the club in their first match of the season, starting in a 2–2 draw at home to Shrewsbury Town on 9 August 2014.[35]

He played for Wimbledon in the 2016 Football League Two play-off Final as they won 2–0 and were promoted to League One for the first time in their history.[36] He agreed a new deal with the club in May 2016.[37]

Despite winning the club's Players' Player of the Year award,[38] he was released by Wimbledon at the end of the 2016–17 season.[39]

Bulman was selected as part of AFC Wimbledon's team of the decade for the 2010s.[40]

Second return to Crawley Town

He returned to Crawley in 2017,[41] and was offered a new contract at the end of the 2017–18 season.[42] In June 2019, at the age of 40, Bulman was offered another one-year contract by Crawley;[43] at that point he was the oldest active player in the English Football League, ahead of Kevin Ellison, Aaron Wilbraham and James Coppinger.[4] At the end of the 2019–20 season, he was offered a new contract by the club,[44] which he agreed to, signing a one-year contract extension as part of a player-coach arrangement.[45][46]

Style of play

Bulman generally plays as a central midfielder,[40][46][12] but can also play as a defensive midfielder.[47] Bulman was also known for his determination as a player.[12] In January 2019, then manager of Crawley Town Gabriele Cioffi praised Bulman's fitness despite his age, stating that 'his performances are always competitive' and that 'he's an all-in player'.[48]

Career statistics
As of match played 2 January 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wycombe Wanderers 1998–99[9] Second Division 111202000151
1999–2000[49] Second Division 29120001[lower-alpha 1]0321
2000–01[50] Second Division 36490403[lower-alpha 1]0524
2001–02[51] Second Division 46541102[lower-alpha 1]0536
2002–03[52] Second Division 42310203[lower-alpha 1]1484
2003–04[53] Second Division 38020102[lower-alpha 1]0430
Total 2021420110011124316
Stevenage Borough 2004–05[11] Conference National 40220—3[lower-alpha 2]0450
2005–06[54] Conference National 39140—1[lower-alpha 1]0441
2006–07[15] Conference National 1000—0010
Total 80360—40901
Crawley Town (loan) 2006–07[15] Conference National 15300—00153
Crawley Town 2006–07[15] Conference National 22100—00221
2007–08[55] Conference Premier 44200—1[lower-alpha 3]0452
2008–09[56] Conference Premier 45300—00453
Total 111600—101126
Oxford United 2009–10[20] Conference Premier 42030—3[lower-alpha 2]0480
2010–11[26] League Two 5000201[lower-alpha 1]080
Total 470302040560
Crawley Town (loan) 2010–11[26] Conference Premier 9130—00121
Crawley Town 2010–11[26] Conference Premier 22030—00250
2011–12[33] League Two 41350101[lower-alpha 1]0483
2012–13[57] League One 36120302[lower-alpha 1]0431
2013–14[58] League One 39020101[lower-alpha 1]0430
Total 138412050401594
AFC Wimbledon 2014–15[59] League Two 41140103[lower-alpha 1]0491
2015–16[60] League Two 42310103[lower-alpha 4]0473
2016–17[61] League One 38040002[lower-alpha 5]0440
Total 12149020801404
Crawley Town 2017–18[62] League Two 37010002[lower-alpha 5]0400
2018–19[63] League Two 36300103[lower-alpha 5]0403
2019–20[64] League Two 29020313[lower-alpha 5]0341
2020–21[65] League Two 6020100090
Total 10835051501234
Career total 8313858124137195041
  1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  2. Appearance in the Conference Premier play-offs
  3. Appearance in the Conference League Cup
  4. Appearances in the League Two play-offs
  5. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

Honours

Oxford United

Crawley Town

AFC Wimbledon

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Crawley Town" (PDF). English Football League. p. 24. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 67. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  3. Dannie Bulman at Soccerbase
  4. "Dannie Bulman: The EFL's oldest player still going strong with Crawley Town at 40". BBC Sport. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  5. "Gregory considering a play-as-you-play scheme". Bucks Free Press. 7 February 1998. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  6. "Smillie hit by injury crisis". Bucks Free Press. 18 July 1998. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  7. "Cheeky Dannie hits the bullseye". Bucks Free Press. 5 September 1998. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  8. "Wycombe Wanderers v Bristol Rovers, 31 August 1998". 11v11. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  9. "Games played by Dannie Bulman in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  10. "Three new players to sign for Wanderers today". Bucks Free Press. 1 July 2004. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  11. "Games played by Dannie Bulman in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  12. "Dannie Bulman". boroguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  13. "Stevenage bring in midfielder Lee". BBC Sport. 1 September 2006. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  14. Hollis, Steve (4 September 2006). "Money still tight at Crawley". The Argus. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  15. "Games played by Dannie Bulman in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  16. "Bulman seals exit from Stevenage". BBC Sport. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  17. Gurney, Tom (2 July 2007). "Football: New faces to help Reds climb table". The Argus. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  18. Talbot, Bruce (18 May 2009). "Skipper leaves Reds". The Argus. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  19. Murray, Jon (8 August 2009). "Oxford Utd 2, York City 1 (08/08)". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  20. "Games played by Dannie Bulman in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  21. Murray, Jon (17 April 2010). "Midson back in for Oxford United". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  22. "Rushden & Diamonds 1–1 Oxford Utd". BBC Sport. 29 April 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  23. "Oxford 2–0 Rushden (agg 3–1)". BBC Sport. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
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  25. Murray, Jon (16 May 2010). "Oxford Utd 3 (M Green 15, Constable 21, Potter 90), York City 1 (Clarke og 42)". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
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  28. "Bulman secures permanent move". The Telegraph. 21 December 2010. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
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  30. Talbot, Bruce (12 April 2011). "Reds held on night of celebration". The Argus. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  31. "Man Utd 1–0 Crawley". BBC Sport. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  32. "Accrington 0–1 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  33. "Games played by Dannie Bulman in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  34. "Dannie Bulman: AFC Wimbledon sign Crawley midfielder". BBC Sport. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  35. "AFC Wimbledon 2–2 Shrewsbury: Debut boys earn a draw". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. AFC Wimbledon. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
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  37. "Charles among Dons quartet to stay". BBC Sport. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  38. "Tom scoops treble honour". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. AFC Wimbledon. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  39. "Squad update from Neal". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. AFC Wimbledon. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  40. "A classic double act: Reeves & Bulman!". afcwimbledon.co.uk. AFC Wimbledon. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  41. "Dannie Bulman: Crawley Town re-sign ex-AFC Wimbledon midfielder". BBC Sport. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  42. "Crawley Town offer trio new deals but allow Jordan Roberts to leave". BBC Sport. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  43. "Dannie Bulman: Crawley Town midfielder, 40, signs new one-year deal". BBC Sport. 7 June 2019.
  44. "Dannie Bulman: EFL's oldest player offered new deal at Crawley". BBC Sport. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  45. "Dannie Bulman: Football League's oldest player signs new deal at Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  46. Bone, Steve (1 August 2020). "Football League's oldest player signs new Crawley deal - and joins management team". Crawley & Horley Observer. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  47. "Report: Young to the rescue as Reds draw 1–1 against Macclesfield". crawleytownfc.com. Crawley Town F.C. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
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  59. "Games played by Dannie Bulman in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
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  61. "Games played by Dannie Bulman in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  62. "Games played by Dannie Bulman in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  63. "Games played by Dannie Bulman in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  64. "Games played by Dannie Bulman in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  65. "Games played by Dannie Bulman in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  66. Marshall, Steve (16 May 2010). "Oxford United 3–1 York City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
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