Mick Boulding Interview

By: Jake Olley
Date: 01/05/2006

MICK Boulding had two short spells with Grimsby Town, but made his name at the Mariners and was only really successful at Blundell Park. In the summer he announced his retirement from football at the age of 29, only to change his mind a few months later!

Mike, you've just joined Rotherham on a short term deal after coming out of retirement. Was it a hard decision to start playing again and why did you choose Rotherham?

It wasn't a hard decision to be honest to start playing again. The main reason to join Rotherham was it was very close to my home in Sheffield and also my younger brother is here-which helps.

Was their any other clubs in for you at the time and why did you decide to retire in the summer at such a young age?

I had a lot of interest in the summer but going into business isn't something I want to go into. And in hindsight I probably made a premature decision.

Now onto the Mariners, you spent a few seasons with Town and your goals ratio was nearly 1 in 2. What was your overall opinion on the club as a whole and how it was run?

I loved my time with Grimsby and felt I had a very special relationship with the fans there even though it turned sour in the end. Although I cannot blame them for that as it was a very bad decision to leave on my part.

In your first spell you left after a fantastic season to join Aston Villa where things didn't really work out. What was your main reason for leaving and why did you turn down the contract offer that was presented to you?

I left the first time because I always dreamed of playing in the Premiership and it was an offer I felt I couldn't turn down. It wasn't motivated by money at all, just purely footballing reasons.

After you returned your scoring record was again fantastic. But after Paul Groves left you decided to hand in a transfer request. Do you feel it was the right decision to sack Paul by the chairman and how was your relationship with both?

I had a very strong relationship with Paul and told the chairman that if he went then so would I. I also think if Paul would have stayed that the club would have definitely stayed up. I know I got a lot of stick for leaving but the club was actively trying to sell me for as much money as possible to Hull City when I wanted to stay.

What were Paul Groves' training methods like for you and how highly do you rate him in your progression as a player?

I think Paul was a good manager but I also have a lot of other people in the game that I am very grateful to. It was Lennie Lawrence who initially took a gamble on me and when Grovesy became manager I was initially on the bench.

While you were there in the second spell there was rumours of fallouts and poor morale, what was your views on this and do you feel if it did happen then it played a part in the club’s downfall?

There were no fallouts in the dressing room or with the manager. Though I do know that there was a lot of disharmony with the board. I also do know through players that there was a lot of unrest and internal problems under Nicky Law.

Would you ever consider a move to Grimsby if things changed and do you have a message to the fans?

I would definitely return to the Mariners if things changed! And my message to the fans would be: Thanks for so many great memories. Sorry if you feel I let you down but there are two sides to every story. When I played for the Mariners I always gave everything I had and that how I'd like to be remembered. Coming back with Barnsley was a heart wrenching experience and one that I wished hadn't happened.

Michael Boulding’s Dream Team of players played with or against.

GK: Nicky Southall
LB: Gio Van Bronckhorst
CB: Martin Keown
CB: Olof Mellberg
RB: Jamie Carragher
LW: Stuart Pearce
CM: Deitar Hamaan
CM: Steve Gerrard
RW: Shaun Wright Phillips
ST: Paul Merson
ST: Dennis Bergkamp

We'd also like to take this chance to thank Mick Boulding who took time out from his busy schedule to do this interview for Town fans

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