In this series at Everything Orient, we take a look back at ex-Orient players and managers and see where their careers have taken them since their departure from Brisbane Road.
Player Profile
Michael Edwin Bullock was born on 2 October 1946 in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Beginning his career with Birmingham City, he played 277 games as centre forward for Leyton Orient between 1967 and 1976. He was a popular and prolific goalscorer, netting 65 goals in his time at Orient and 109 in his career in total.
Bullock was a wonderful header of the ball, and was an integral part of the Orient team that won the Division Three Championship in the 1969-70 season, contributing 19 goals as top scorer.
Where Have They Been?
Bullock began his career as a 16-year old youth player with Birmingham City. He signed his senior contract with the club in 1963 and subsequently spent four years at St Andrews, making 27 appearances and scoring 10 times.
On his departure from Birmingham, Bullock joined Oxford United for one season where he scored 15 goals in 59 appearances and helped them gain promotion. Then in 1968 Bullock was snapped up by the O’s to take the number 9 shirt from Roy Massey, who moved on to play for Colchester United. This move proved to be highly profitable for both Bullock and Orient, with the centre forward scoring 65 times in 277 appearances.
Bullock went on to spend eight seasons with Orient, from 1968 to 1976, and he was a key player in the side that won the Third Division title in 1969-70. The O’s certainly had some wonderful, charismatic players during the time that Bullock was in the team.
He played with the ever-popular goalkeepers Ray Goddard and John ‘Stonewall’ Jackson, defenders Dennis Rofe, Terry Mancini, Tom Walley, Phil Hoadley, Glen Roeder, Paul Harris and Tommy Taylor, fellow strikers Vic Halom, Ian Bowyer, Barry Dyson and Gerry Queen, wingers Barrie Fairbrother, Mark Lazarus, Derek Possee and Peter Brabrook, midfielders Terry Brisley, Peter Allen, Tony Grealish, Jimmy Bloomfield and Barry Dyson, and several other well known names from the 70’s. He also shared a season (1975-76) with, arguably, Orient’s most famous player, Laurie Cunningham.
On leaving Leyton Orient in 1976, Bullock joined Halifax Town where he played a further 106 games, scoring 19 goals. He then swapped playing for coaching, and on 13 July 1981 became the Halifax first team manager. But this was not entirely successful, and after winning only 39 our of 148 games he was sacked as manager on 22 October 1984.
Over his playing career the impressive centre forward had scored 109 goals in 469 Football League appearances over 18 years, a strike rate of one goal every 4.3 games.
Where Are They Now?
Following his departure from Halifax Town, Bullock went on to manage Goole Town, with whom he won the West Riding County Cup. Then, as manager of Ossett Town (1987-1991) he won successive promotions from the Northern Counties East League Division 2 to the Premier Division - and in 1990 Ossett won the North Eastern Counties League Cup, the last time the club won a trophy.
Bullock left Ossett in 1991 and worked as a scout for a number of Football League clubs, including Hereford and Portsmouth. He was also an insurance consultant. Now aged 72, Mickey is presumably enjoying a well earned retirement.
In November last year, Mickey met up with former Leyton Orient Club Chairman Brian Winston, together with Peter Allen and Peter Kitchen, to talk over old times. Mickey and the two Peters still retain great affection for the club for which they wore the shirt with such pride and distinction.
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