AFC Wimbledon’s new signing Dannie Bulman already has memories of the Dons, both good and bad, but now he wants to create memories that have Dons fans smiling.

The 35-year-old midfielder penned a one-year deal at the Cherry Red Records stadium on Tuesday after turning down a contract at League One Crawley Town.

Bulman, a vastly experienced free transfer, has made more than 540 first team appearances.

In that time, he has scored 31 goals and been sent off just twice – one of which was in Crawley colours when they faced the Dons in the Blue Square Premier in March 2011.

Moreover, in 16 years of professional football the former Thamesmead School pupil has scored only one brace, and that came at the Dons in October of the same year.

He said: “I hope I can be part a Dons side that pushes up the League Two table.

“It’s been a tough few years for the fans, so hopefully I can help change that a bit.

“As a midfielder I like to break up the opposition’s attacks, but I also like to get forward to create chances.

“I’d like to get more goals. My only brace came against Wimbledon so maybe that’s a good omen.”

Bulman spent just one season in League Two as Crawley Town passed through during successive promotion campaigns.

And loyalty plays a strong part in his football philosophy having made 160 appearances for Wycombe Wanderers, 273 at Crawley Town, 82 at Stevenage and 48 at Oxford.

“I don’t like to move around too much,” he said.

“Sometimes that is difficult if a new manager comes in, but I am quite loyal to a club, but I also know when the time is right to make a fresh move.

“I was offered a contract by Crawley Town, but it was not very good and so I decided it was time for a change.

“I contacted clubs who had shown an interest in me before, including Neal [Ardley], and after a couple of weeks he got back to me and a deal was done.”

He added: “Neal is the kind of manager a footballer wants to play for. He is level-headed, not too high and not too low.

“He’s also played the game at a high level, so you know he has a football mind.”

With the deal done, Bulman has other pressing issues on his mind, including being able to watch England’s opening game on the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

He said: “England’s chances are not great, but I still want to watch the games.

“However, it is my wedding anniversary on Saturday so I will have to make sure my wife is pampered well before the game kicks off.”

Ardley said: “He’s a fit 35-year-old. And Dannie tells me that he has the body of a 25-year-old.
“When I’ve spoken to several people about him that’