Between two spells at Crewe, Manchester-born Jim Bullock had failed to make the first-team at Maine Road. Nor did he shine in his second stint Gresty Road, where his four games in the Third North produced but one goal. Even so, Second Division Southampton bought him and found that, despite his lack of inches, he was a centre-forward who could not stop scoring. But as Bill Rawlings was an immovable force during most of Bullock’s five seasons at Southampton, he had to score nearly all of his goals for the Reserves – a staggering 163 in 209 matches, a record that has never been threatened since. In June 1929, he fell out with the club over a benefit and returned to the Third North at Chesterfield, where his goal-scoring attracted the attention of First Division Manchester United.

Having, at last, made it into the top flight with one of his home-town clubs, Jim seldom featured in United’s relegation season of 1930-31. Whereupon, he had a season in Ireland and another in Wales – where his 43 goals helped Llanelli to become Welsh champions – before winding down his career in the Cheshire League at Hyde. In 1939 he was a grocer in Stockport.