Exclusives

A LOT of footballers let themselves go after hanging up their boots – but not Jimmy Bullard.The 42-year-old former Premier League ace insists there is no better or fitter “washed-up” player his age who can still do a job on the pitch.
Jimmy Bullard insists there is no better or fitter ‘washed-up’ player his age who can still do a job on the pitchCredit: Papa John’s
And he puts it down to the mantra he lives by — “look good, play good” — which his father ingrained in him from an early age.
In an exclusive chat with The Sun, Jimmy said: “I’ve always tried to look as good as I can. I was taught that by my dad — ‘Be as fit as you can, never look untidy’.
“But I’ve changed my image since I played football. I’ve got the man bun now.
“The fashion, I’ve always liked it. You’re in front of camera, always try and look good. My image has always been big for me.
“I always smell good, always look good, or especially in my eyes.
“Not that people will have my fashion — but the people who don’t have my fashion just haven’t got a clue.
‘TRIM AS A BUTCHER’S DOG’
“So I’m the Bully, I wear it, I smell it, I’m the boy. That’s the end of it.”
Nicknamed The Bulldog, Jimmy’s confidence in his continued ability comes in part from the various challenges he undertakes on Sky’s Soccer AM, which he co-hosts.
He said: “You know what I was told a long time ago, ‘Look good, feel good, play good’. It’s part of it.
“If I look good, I feel good and I produce. It always has been.
“At 42, I’m still trim as a butcher’s dog. Still put it up in top banjos (corner of the goal) for fun.
“Name me another washed-up football player, 42, [who’s] still got the power but [can] back it up with a bit of a producement. Who can do that?
Jimmy starred on I’m A Celeb in 2014 alongside Melanie SykesCredit: Rex
Jimmy enjoyed a long career in the top flight with teams including Hull CityCredit: Empics
When Jimmy scored for Hull against Manchester City in 2009, he went viral for celebrating the goal by mocking their managerCredit: EPA
“There aren’t a lot out there, I’ll tell you that for nothing.”
When I mention Peter Crouch, Jimmy goes into a rant: “Listen, you give Crouchy a golf ball and a golf club, can he chip it in the bin first time? No. I can.
“Crouchy ain’t in the Bully’s league.”
But he clarified: “I love all the boys. Listen, I just love my gig. I absolutely love it.
“If we’re talking Soccer AM, that ain’t work. We have a mess around with the boys, we interview a few bits of talent, in the car park we go, kick a ball about, we’re the boys and girls. Bang. Done.”
Despite his confidence, Jimmy does say he might need a bit of enhancement such as Botox to keep him looking young and on screens for a little bit longer.
‘I DON’T LIKE NEEDLES’
He said: “I’ve got a little crevice in between my eyes. I’ve got a little bit of a framing dent.
“I might be getting a filler in that just to chill it out a bit.
“But to be honest, I’m half looking at it now and I’m all half going, ‘I think it makes me’. Some frowns make you, don’t they?
“So I dunno about that and I don’t like needles.”
Born in East London, Jimmy started out at amateur team Corinthian in Kent before enjoying a long career in the top division with teams including Hull City, Fulham and Wigan Athletic.
He got an England call-up under manager Fabio Capello in 2008 but failed to make an appearance, something Jimmy called a “kick in the b*****ks”.
I can be a bit of a swearer and a shouter at times but I’ve learned to sort of wind my neck in a fractionJimmy Bullard
He retired in 2012 while playing for MK Dons, before going into the jungle on 2014’s I’m A Celeb and landing the Soccer AM gig in 2017.
Presenting a morning show has meant he needs to rein in the language of the football pitch and become a bit more politically correct.
Jimmy said: “It comes down to respect. You know people around you, people behind camera, viewers. You must have respect for each other.
“That’s one thing I’ve always tried to have is respect for others, whatever environment you’re in. If you’re talking about being PC, that is respect.
“Knowing what’s around, knowing what background others come from, who they are. You’ve got to learn and that comes from people management being in a football team.
“Thirty to forty people in a changing room, they’re hostile environments.
Jimmy says he might need a bit of enhancement such as Botox to keep him looking young and on screensCredit: Rex
Jimmy says Peter Crouch can’t ‘chip it in the bin first time’ on the golf course like he canCredit: Getty
Jimmy teamed up with Papa John’s to dish out £100,000 to grassroots clubs that have been hit by the Covid restrictionsCredit: Papa John’s
“I learned that a long time ago, respect the people around you. It’s a bit of a crossover being PC, being respectful for others around you.
“I’ve had to change my way a little bit — that rawness.
“I can be a bit of a swearer and a shouter at times but I’ve learned to sort of wind my neck in a fraction and it comes with age as well.
“Can you imagine me on camera at 24? I wouldn’t have lasted two weeks.”
But he admits there is still a different Jimmy to the Bulldog we see on screens every Saturday.
He said: “When I’m at my highest, like Bulldog being his nuttiest, course there’s a difference of Bulldogs — sitting indoors being with his family — there’s a big difference — or Jimmy going fishing.
It’s changed now, the world of football’s changedJimmy Bullard
“I have a number of different scales all the time. Up and down like a yo-yo. I’m going for a pint now. I’ll be crackered in an hour and I’ll wake up tomorrow morning and I won’t be as crackers.
“You just don’t want to meet me when I’m at a ten.”
It seems that characters like Jimmy and his hero, Paul Gascoigne, 53, are disappearing from football.
How many players would celebrate a goal by mocking their manager nowadays?
When Jimmy scored for Hull against Manchester City in 2009, he went viral for doing just that.
The season before during the same fixture, manager Phil Brown brought his players on the pitch for a half-time dressing down in front of the fans following a poor first 45 minutes.
The Soccer AM host says he’s learned to ‘sort of wind his neck in a fraction’
Jimmy got an England call-up under manager Fabio Capello in 2008 but failed to make an appearanceCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
It seems that characters like Jimmy and his hero, Paul Gascoigne, are disappearing from footballCredit: Getty – Contributor
Jimmy recreated it by wagging his finger at the majority of the team.
The former midfielder does however believe there are still characters like him in the game.
He said: “I just think clubs now are very guarded, they pay these players a lot. There’s obviously characters within their clubs. Characters will never stop.
“Back in the day when we had the Gazzas of the world and this and that, it’s changed now, the world of football’s changed.
“I’m telling you now if you went in the dressing room, you would see the characters.
“One thing I’ve known about TV, everyone’s different. The great Ian Wright is the closest person I know from off camera to being on camera.
‘IT’S ON YOU’
“It’s an art skill to actually be yourself on camera. Especially being in a PC world, it is really hard, you’ve only got to say the wrong word, the wrong sentence at the wrong time. Boom, it’s on you.”
Jimmy recently teamed up with pizza firm Papa John’s to dish out £100,000 to grassroots clubs that have been hit by the Covid restrictions.
I point out that the money is worth a lot to the clubs at grassroots level, something he knows all about, having played for my local team Ebbsfleet United, who are based in Gravesend, Kent, and are near the bottom of the football pyramid.
He replied: “Monster! Soon as I heard about it, £100,000 given away to grassroots football to help up and down a ladder, whatever it may be, it will go a long way for these clubs, electricity bills, new kits etc.”
Jimmy added: “It’s gonna help many people inside that club and the football club itself.
The former footballer admits there is still a different Jimmy to the Bulldog we see on screens every SaturdayCredit: Rex

“They’re so reliant on fans, especially after this pandemic. It couldn’t have come at a better time.
“If you’re trying to bracket, it’s almost like millions to a Premier League club.”
Now that cause is definitely a good look for the Bulldog.
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A PROTESTER who ran across the Old Trafford pitch with a Manchester United corner flag was later filmed sniffing a suspicious white powder off it.In scenes that’ll do nothing for his cause, he was shown outside the ground emptying the substance on the bottom of the pole.
A protester was pictured running across the Old Trafford pitch with a Manchester United corner flagCredit: AFP
He was later filmed sprinkling a suspicious white powder on to the flag pole
After appearing to snort it, he holds up the flag — bearing the club’s crest — and shouts “United” while laughing into the camera.
The video was shared on Snapchat with a laughing emoji and a caption reading: “Striped off the flag.”
Sunday’s demo saw 1,000 fans gather outside the stadium to protest at the club owners, the US-based Glazer family, in the wake of the failed European Super League proposals.
Around 100 stormed the pitch. Others massed at the hotel where United players were staying.
The match against Liverpool was postponed.
Police said six officers were hurt, including one who suffered a fractured eye socket and another whose face was slashed.
Assistant chief constable Russ Jackson said: “We fully respect the right for peaceful protest. But it soon became clear many present had no intention of doing so peacefully.”
The grinning supporter showed off the club crest on the flag
The fan appeared to sniff white powder off the flag base

United denied claims that staff had opened a stadium gate for protesters and insisted they had smashed their way in.
PM Boris Johnson, who was anti-Super League, said: “I don’t think it’s a good idea to have disruptive behaviour.
“But I do understand people’s strength of feeling.”
The video was shared on Snapchat with a laughing emoji and a caption reading: ‘Striped off the flag’
Sunday’s demo saw 1,000 fans gather outside the stadium to protest at the club owners, the US-based Glazer familyCredit: PA
Around 100 fans stormed the pitch while others massed at the hotel where United players were stayingCredit: Getty
Police said six officers were hurt in the protestsCredit: Reuters
Angry Man Utd fans break into Old Trafford and storm pitch in protest against Glazers More

A PROTESTER who ran across the Old Trafford pitch with a Manchester United corner flag was later filmed sniffing a suspicious white powder off it.In scenes that will do nothing for his cause, he was shown outside the ground emptying the substance on the bottom of the pole.
A protester was pictured running across the Old Trafford pitch with a Manchester United corner flagCredit: AFP
He was later filmed sprinkling a suspicious white powder on to the flag pole
After appearing to snort it, he holds up the flag — bearing the club’s crest — and shouts “United” while laughing into the camera.
The video was shared on Snapchat with a laughing emoji and a caption reading: “Striped off the flag.”
Sunday’s demo saw 1,000 fans gather outside the stadium to protest at the club owners, the US-based Glazer family, in the wake of the failed European Super League proposals.
Around 100 stormed the pitch. Others massed at the hotel where United players were staying.
The match against Liverpool was postponed.
Police said six officers were hurt, including one who suffered a fractured eye socket and another whose face was slashed.
Assistant chief constable Russ Jackson said: “We fully respect the right for peaceful protest. But it soon became clear many present had no intention of doing so peacefully.”
The grinning supporter showed off the club crest on the flag
The fan appeared to sniff white powder off the flag base

United denied claims that staff had opened a stadium gate for protesters and insisted they had smashed their way in.
PM Boris Johnson, who was anti-Super League, said: “I don’t think it’s a good idea to have disruptive behaviour.
“But I do understand people’s strength of feeling.”
The video was shared on Snapchat with a laughing emoji and a caption reading: ‘Striped off the flag’
Sunday’s demo saw 1,000 fans gather outside the stadium to protest at the club owners, the US-based Glazer familyCredit: PA
Around 100 fans stormed the pitch while others massed at the hotel where United players were stayingCredit: Getty
Police said six officers were hurt in the protestsCredit: Reuters
Angry Man Utd fans break into Old Trafford and storm pitch in protest against Glazers More

RISING footie star Bukayo Saka has upset neighbours by leaving piles of earth outside his home.The 19-year-old Arsenal and England player is having a football pitch with changing room installed at the £2.3million mansion he bought only last year.
Bukayo Saka has upset neighbours by leaving piles of earth outside his homeCredit: Rex
The footie player is having a football pitch with changing room installed at his £2.3million mansionCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
He called in bulldozers to level off the back garden — but they left what residents call a mountain of mud.
One of his neighbours near Hatfield, Herts, said: “The building work is causing a real eyesore.
The footie ace called in bulldozers to level off the back garden — but they left what residents call a mountain of mudCredit: The Sun
One of his neighbours said: ‘The building work is causing a real eyesore’Credit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd

“It’s a horrendous sight and a lot of the neighbours aren’t at all happy.
“The area has a lot of very well-to-do people who don’t expect this sort of thing.”
But another said; “If he keeps scoring for Arsenal, I’m not bothered.”
Arsenal legend Martin Keown slams Mikel Arteta for ‘exposing’ Granit Xhaka at left-back against Villarreal More

DIEGO Maradona died in his sleep and lay undiscovered for up to eight hours, a medical board will tell prosecutors.The World Cup-winner, 60, was declared dead at 1.15pm on November 25 after a 45-minute attempt to revive him.
Diego Maradona’s body lay undiscovered for eight hours, examiners sayCredit: AFP
His doctor Leopoldo Luque had called for an ambulance at midday.
But experts preparing a report for prosecutors heading a manslaughter probe put the time of his death at between 4am and 6am, reports say.
The 20-strong medical board is also set to confirm his death was caused by a pre-existing heart disease that was not being treated properly.

Argentinian media claims the board will call the former Barcelona star’s care following a brain blood clot op “negligent and incompetent”.
Dr Luque is among seven people under investigation.
He denies any wrongdoing.
Diego Maradona died on November 25, 2020 aged 60Credit: Getty
Diego Maradona’s Argentina shirt from 1982 World Cup debut up for auction and expected to sell for £145k More

RISING footie ace Bukayo Saka has upset neighbours by leaving piles of earth outside his home.The 19-year-old Arsenal and England star is having a football pitch with changing room installed at the £2.3million mansion he bought only last year.
Bukayo Saka has upset neighbours by leaving piles of earth outside his homeCredit: Rex
The footie player is having a football pitch with changing room installed at his £2.3million mansionCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
He called in bulldozers to level off the back garden — but they left what residents call a mountain of mud.
One of his neighbours near Hatfield, Herts, said: “The building work is causing a real eyesore.
The footie ace called in bulldozers to level off the back garden — but they left what residents call a mountain of mudCredit: The Sun
One of his neighbours said: ‘The building work is causing a real eyesore’Credit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd

“It’s a horrendous sight and a lot of the neighbours aren’t at all happy.
“The area has a lot of very well-to-do people who don’t expect this sort of thing.”
But another said; “If he keeps scoring for Arsenal, I’m not bothered.”
Arsenal legend Martin Keown slams Mikel Arteta for ‘exposing’ Granit Xhaka at left-back against Villarreal More