Saturday 19 December 2009

The Funny Side of Football

Over the years many incidents on and off the pitch have disgraced the beauty of the greatest sport on the planet. Even more have symbolised the true meaning of the game, with acts of sportsmanship, concern and even respect for fellow players and managers.

However, there is one individual who everybody can agree on, should and must be named the funniest footballer ever to have graced the turf. At first thought everybody may think, "Oh yeah that Thierry Henry for his funny arrogance, or Cantona for his classic celebration". Not anymore. Cantona's classic turn and stare celebration has been overtaken in the what would be known as 'Celebration Premier League'.

By who you ask? One man. Mr Jimmy Bullard. His footballing ability is one to be admired for sure, but his comedic attributes has earned him a wealth of respect across the land, and in some cases abroad.



This picture sums up the man. A simple turn-around-and-smile job was made into a marathon by the ever-extrinsic Jimmy Bullard, who managed to make a short process into a photoshoot we usually expect to see Katie Price partake in. You think the picture's brilliant, the video is even better.
His comedy on the pitch resembles a man who enjoys his work, and somebody who appreciates the situation he finds himself in-a professional footballer. Granted, thousands and even millions of players worldwide find themselves in professional football, or pushing the borders of professional football, but to be regarded as one of the best English midfielders of our time says a lot about the East London born lad.

Despite being born in London, Bullard went to school in my home county of Kent, so immediately I am a fan of the man. I am a proud Kent boy, as resembled by my previous blog supporting Joe Denly in his quest for Internatonal success in cricket. Bullard went to school not far from my dad's place of living, and started his professional footballing career at then-called Gravesend and Northfleet, now Ebbsfleet United.

However, it was in the Premier League where Mr Comedy himself made his name in the football world. Despite enjoying success at his boyhood team West Ham, and Peterborough United in the lower leagues, Bullard became the man he is today for his antics at Wigan Athletic, where he not only enjoyed vast amounts of rewards on the pitch, but off the pitch his reputation grew into something every young boy dreams of.

He became a hero-like character to the crew on Sky Sports' Soccer AM show, after running the length of the pitch to score a goal against Arsenal, after the floodlights went out half way through the match. Along with this Bullard's famous leapfrog over a crowd of players battling frantically to get the ball in a goalmouth scramble earned him admiration all across the land after falling flat on his face. It was these two particular incidents that Soccer AM changed their back door to "Jimmy Bullard's Back Door".

Evidence of Bullard's nationwide popularity is on the social networking site, Facebook. There is a group which is suggesting fans want to see the former-Wigan midfielder on the cover for FIFA 2011. What an honour that would be! A long shot, yes. After all he's going to have to beat the competition of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney, but how the world of football gaming would change if an ordinary English midfielder was to cover the world's most popular football game.

His on-field 'specials' continued at Fulham, after celebrating a goal, Bullard snuggled up to the Cottagers' mascot on the turf of he West London side-how romantic yet utterly brilliant it was. Without a shadow of a doubt, Bullard is, and hs ben for a while a contender for a midfield place in the national team. However, behind the man full of smile and joy is a fragile soldier who has been plagued by constant knee injuries, enough to take its toll even on the greatest of men. January 2009 saw him make his debut for Hull but sadly for Bullard he injured the same knee as the one he dislocated during his Fulham days, then February 2009 saw his 2008/09 season end after undergoing surgery. He returned in October 2009 but is again out for eight weeks after damaging his other knee after challenging for the ball with James Milner in a game against Aston Villa.

Bullard has three goals for Hull City. Two from the penalty spot, and a wonderful free kick against West Ham, in which he scored a brace. His other penalty was the equaliser against Manchester City, and it was at Eastlands where Jimmy's humour prospered once more. Many footbal fans may remember Hull's visit to Manchester last season, 4-0 down at half time and facing a depressing journey home. Phil Brown, the manager of Hull decided to take his players on the pitch in front of the away fans for his half time team talk. Many thought he was mad, others thought it would pay off. It didn't-the rest of the season Hull were on the brink of relegation until their final day survival. Bullard being the 'cheery chappy' he is centre pieced a circle of Hull City players, in the exact same spot, reinacting the half time team talk. However, that Phil Brown blunder seems just a memory as it is Bullard's excellence, which without a shadow of doubt has earned him The Best Celebration Ever.
The link for that video is here for anybody who wishes to watch a memorable celebration ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJkq23K_on8 )
Brown took the celebration with a smile telling BBC Sport: "It was a fantastic celebration. Great comedy is about timing".


To conclude my christmas blog on the sport I love, despite being called up to England's world cup qualifiers squad to play Croatia and Andorra in 2009, he has had the option to play for Germany. In the build-up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Bullard contacted then boss Jurgen Klinsmann with an interest to making the squad ater revealing that his grandmother is German.
Let's hope he chooses England, and let's hope he overcomes his injuries and fights for a place in the national side, along with a plane ticket to South Africa in June. Thank you Jimmy Bullard!

Anybody wishing the watch some of Bullard's classic moments on and off the pitch I will leave links to videos. Do feel free to watch. Very funny man!
Many Thanks for reading.

G.M

2 comments:

  1. Jimmy Bullard is hilarious and so cute!.. I saw the clip of his 'simple' turn around and smile shot on Soccer AM or something, it's hilarious

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very nice blog
    Few more football pictures on Jason Sarofsky

    ReplyDelete