Nikki Bull
Encyclopedia
Nikki Bull is an English footballer who plays for Wycombe Wanderers
as a goalkeeper. He has previously played for, most notably, Aldershot Town
and also had spells at Queens Park Rangers
and Hayes
. He started his career as a schoolboy at Aston Villa
.
, East Sussex
and moved to Aldershot Town
in the summer of 2002 after being released by Queens Park Rangers. In his first season at the club he was named player of the year and scored his solitary goal for the club, a penalty in the final home match as promotion to the Football Conference
was secured. He again won the Player of the Year trophy in the 2005–06 season.
In Aldershot's double-winning promotion season, Bull was named Goalkeeper of the Year and Non-League footballer of the Year by his peers. Despite his success, he said that he would leave Aldershot no matter what happened, and this was confirmed by the club at the end of the season. However, on 27 May 2008 it was announced that Bull would be staying on at Aldershot for a further two years. Bull played for Aldershot Town in their first game in the Football League
against Accrington Stanley
on 9 August 2008, which was won 1–0. He agreed to leave Aldershot at the end of July 2009 to pursue a career outside of football. However, he instead opted to continue his football career, and signed for Brentford
on 3 August 2009. The following year, he turned down the offer of a further one-year contract with the Bees, and instead agreed a similar deal with Wycombe Wanderers
on 7 June 2010. On 29 July 2010, Bull put in an outstanding performance against a Chelsea
reserve side, making a very large number of saves and hampering Chelsea's efforts to score, which played a huge part in Wycombe's eventual 5–1 victory.
On 25 April 2011, Bull saved a penalty in a match against Crewe Alexandra
at Adams Park
. His save prevented Crewe from equalising and Wycombe went on to win 2–0. Bull played every first team game in both league and cup and was rewarded by winning both the Supporters and players player of the year award.
On 9 August 2011 Wycombe were involved in a penalty shootout against their Colchester United
in the first round of the League Cup. Wycombe won 5–4 on penalties after Bull saved a penalty in the shootout.
Wycombe Wanderers:
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
as a goalkeeper. He has previously played for, most notably, Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
and also had spells at Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
and Hayes
Hayes F.C.
Hayes F.C. was an English football club based in Hayes, in Greater London. The club started out as Botwell Mission in 1909 taking its present name in 1929. The team nickname, The Missioners was a salute to the history of the team. The club played in the Conference South for their last few seasons...
. He started his career as a schoolboy at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
.
Career
Bull was born in HastingsHastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
and moved to Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
in the summer of 2002 after being released by Queens Park Rangers. In his first season at the club he was named player of the year and scored his solitary goal for the club, a penalty in the final home match as promotion to the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
was secured. He again won the Player of the Year trophy in the 2005–06 season.
In Aldershot's double-winning promotion season, Bull was named Goalkeeper of the Year and Non-League footballer of the Year by his peers. Despite his success, he said that he would leave Aldershot no matter what happened, and this was confirmed by the club at the end of the season. However, on 27 May 2008 it was announced that Bull would be staying on at Aldershot for a further two years. Bull played for Aldershot Town in their first game in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
against Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
on 9 August 2008, which was won 1–0. He agreed to leave Aldershot at the end of July 2009 to pursue a career outside of football. However, he instead opted to continue his football career, and signed for Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
on 3 August 2009. The following year, he turned down the offer of a further one-year contract with the Bees, and instead agreed a similar deal with Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
on 7 June 2010. On 29 July 2010, Bull put in an outstanding performance against a Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
reserve side, making a very large number of saves and hampering Chelsea's efforts to score, which played a huge part in Wycombe's eventual 5–1 victory.
On 25 April 2011, Bull saved a penalty in a match against Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
at Adams Park
Adams Park
Adams Park is a football stadium in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. It is the home ground of Wycombe Wanderers F.C. and the Aviva Premiership Rugby Union club London Wasps...
. His save prevented Crewe from equalising and Wycombe went on to win 2–0. Bull played every first team game in both league and cup and was rewarded by winning both the Supporters and players player of the year award.
On 9 August 2011 Wycombe were involved in a penalty shootout against their Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
in the first round of the League Cup. Wycombe won 5–4 on penalties after Bull saved a penalty in the shootout.
Honours
Aldershot Town:- Conference NationalConference NationalConference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
(Champions): 2008
Wycombe Wanderers:
- League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
(Promotion): 2011