Raging Bulley: One Soccer Star’s Journey from Britain to Buffalo

Dan Bulley begins his senior season at UB

Dan Bulley

BUFFALO, NY- Growing up in Devon, England, Dan Bulley dreamed, like so many others, of someday playing professional sports. What he did not intend, however, was to become a Division I soccer star in Buffalo, New York. Bulley’s journey to the University at Buffalo wasn’t always clear, but his attraction to the school could be due to something more than just coincidence or good scouting. His last name, stitched across the back of his jersey, bears a striking resemblance to the school nickname embroidered on the front.

As a teenager, Bulley was in England playing for different club teams and making a name for himself. He “had no intention” of coming to the States to play, he says.

At age 19, he was in his second year for the Plymouth Argyle club. At the end of the 2004 season, Bulley’s “contract was up and didn’t get renewed,” he recalls. While it may have seemed like a setback at the time, this opening was the reason Bulley came to the States and eventually the University at Buffalo. He was recruited and went to play for the Division II West Texas A&M Buffaloes. In his freshman year, Bulley started eighteen games, had four assists, and led the team with nine goals. He may have continued to shine at West Texas for more seasons had it not been for his friend Lee Catchpole.

Catchpole, a forward on the UB Bulls soccer team from 2004 to 2008, knew Bulley from their days in England. Bulley recalls, “My friend Lee sent me a message saying he was having such a good time here and he would like it if I came up. I liked what I saw. The facilities were great and there was a lot of enthusiasm. It was an easy decision, really.”

That decision has paid off. In his two years as a Bull, Bulley has led the team in points and goals in both seasons. His numbers are outstanding, rounding out at 32 points and 14 goals in his UB career.

The Bulls began their 2009 season against four Big East teams, traveling to three different cities in ten days. They split their games: two wins and two losses, but Bulley, a senior and co-captain, remains positive. “We have a lot of new faces coming on the team, but we’re really jelling so far,” he says. “I think we’re picking up where we left off last season in terms of confidence and communication amongst ourselves.”

Bulley scored his first goal of the season on September 13th, during the Bulls loss to DePaul. “The pass came in from Casey [Derkacz, Junior defenseman], and I made a hard run across the box and headed it in right past the goalkeeper,” he says.

With his collegiate career coming to a close, Bulley plans to continue with his soccer playing, hopefully in one of the professional leagues in the United States. Bulley says that he would like to get into the MLS or USL, the two top levels in this country. Since 2000, three Bulls have made it into one of these leagues.

That’s not stopping Bulley. He cites his background in England, his stats, and a few contacts he’s already made as factors that qualify him for the national leagues. Graciously he adds, “UB has given me a good base to push on as a pro.”

Bulley’s biggest accomplishment so far may be his two appearances for Great Britain at the World University Games. The Games, held every other year in a different country, are second only to the Olympics as the biggest sporting event in the world.

Traveling to Thailand and Serbia in 2007 and 2009, respectively, Bulley shared the field with some of the best young soccer stars in the world today. Modestly, Bulley admits he was “selected through some contacts,” and upon a recommendation from UB Head Coach John Astudillo. “In 2007,” he adds, “I was successful in the tryout. I did well, so I was considered again in ’09.”

In the 2009 Games, Bulley saw action in five of six matches, starting in the semifinals against Ukraine and the Bronze medal game versus Japan. He recorded four shots during the competition, two of them on net. Bulley helped Great Britain earn a fourth place spot, placing ahead of twelve other countries.

Is it possible that his last name led Bulley straight to UB? Laughing, Bulley says, “Yeah, I thought about that. It is kind of ironic, right? I think there are certain paths to go down in soccer. This one has obviously worked out for me, though. It was meant to be.”

Written by Jack Murphy