Soccer: Bullock mindful of 'boot boy's' skill in top-of-table clash

Midfielders Martin Bullock and David Mulligan will run out as equals for Sunday's mouth-watering top-of-the-table ASB Premiership battle at Fred Taylor Park - a far cry from the days when Mulligan cleaned Bullock's boots.

Auckland City's Mulligan, 29, one of a handful of players who played for New Zealand in the 1999 Fifa Under-17 World Cup and went on to join English club Barnsley, quickly found cleaning boots among his chores.

Waitakere United's Bullock, 36, was well-established at Barnsley - he had played 35 games for them in the 1997-98 Premier League - when Mulligan and fellow internationals Allan Pearce and Jeremy Christie turned up at the Tykes.

On Sunday, Mulligan will be up against Bullock in the midfield battle while Pearce plays alongside the seasoned pro who retired at the end of the 2008 season and headed downunder.

"I wasn't as good as I used to be and knew it was time to call it a day," said Bullock, who admitted he wasn't sure about the standard of play here when he, his wife and their two children turned their back on England for a new life.

"I'd played against Neil Emblen a few years earlier and thought why not. We got our permanent residency in August and certainly have no regrets. Our kids love it here."

Bullock, who played for England Under-21 in 1996 and more than 400 times in the English leagues, quickly fitted in at Waitakere.

"It's been absolutely fabulous. I'm really enjoying my football for the first time since I was at Blackpool [2001-05]. Summer football is great and the pitches we play on are really good."

While most of his teammates had their first experience of playing indoors when they beat Otago United at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Sunday, Bullock fondly remembers the two games he played indoors at the Millennium Stadium.

"I'm sure the players enjoyed the experience. It was a great surface and atmosphere."

While he carries the tag as the elder statesman in the Waitakere line-up, Bullock isn't being drawn on second retirement plans.

"I'm still enjoying it and I won't make any decision about next season for a while yet. I wasn't sure about this season when I got injured last season, but I'm fit now and looking forward especially to games like Sunday's," said Bullock.

"It'll be a real challenge. I was impressed with Auckland City when we played them in the Charity Cup; the first half especially it was men against boys.

"I'm not sure whether they took their foot off the pedal in the second half but they were still better than us on the day. I'm sure they are hot favourites again this time."

Of his role as the dead-ball specialist, Bullock said that's something that has only come late in his career.

"I've never been a free kick specialist but I took one and it went in so I got landed with it, although Allan Pearce took over when I was injured. But he'd better start scoring soon or I'll be pushing him out of the way."

Bullock has other not so fond memories of his first clash with Auckland City.

Five minutes into the game at Kiwitea St at the start of the 2009-10 season, Bullock was sent off by Peter O'Leary - who will again be in charge on Sunday. City went on to win 2-1 with a late Grant Young goal.

"For me, that decision was ridiculous," said a bemused Bullock. "I've only been sent off four times in my career. Three of the decisions were questionable.

"One was overturned and on another, the referee changed his mind after the game."

But he and his teammates know they can't afford such slip-ups this time as they square off against the competition's form team with the stakes so high.

Neither side can win the ASB Premiership on Sunday but they are all too aware a loss could put a severe dent in their title hopes.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Waitakere United v Auckland City

Fred Taylor Park

Sunday 2pm

Referee: Peter O'Leary

YoungHeart Manawatu v Otago United

Memorial Park

Sunday noon

Referee: Jonathan Price

Hawkes Bay United v Canterbury United

Park Island

Sunday 2pm

Referee: Mark Hester

Team Wellington v Waikato FC

David Farrington Park

Sunday 2pm

Referee: Nick Waldron