CLIFTONVILLE hall of famer George ‘Geordie’ McMullan has come out of retirement to sign for Crumlin’s Crewe United.
Now almost 37, McMullan skippered the north Belfast Reds to Irish Premiership titles in 2013 and 2014 before he hung up his boots after 15 seasons two years ago.
He has been a regular supporter at Solitude Park since and admits he felt a “wee itch” to get back on the pitch. When the offer came from Crewe manager Eamon McCarthy he decided to join former Cliftonville team-mates Ronan and Chris Scannell at the Mid-Ulster League outfit.
“They’d been on to me about coming down and getting on board,” he explained.
“I didn’t really fancy it at the start but I came round to it and eventually I broke and signed on the dotted line.
“I haven’t done any football training in a couple of years but I played a friendly the other day and I felt grand, I played an hour and got through it injury-free so I don’t feel too bad.”
McMullan scored 103 goals in 544 appearances for Cliftonville from midfield and his final game for the club was a Europa League play-off victory over Glentoran in 2015.
“It’s a new challenge,” he said.
“I couldn’t have seen myself playing for anybody else but the Reds but over the last couple of years I was going to watch the games and I was getting a wee itch, I was starting to miss it a wee bit.
“A lot of people told me I retired too young and that I would miss it. I haven’t missed it really but I played a few charity games in the summer and I got to the stage where I wouldn’t mind a game. I’m looking forward to it.”
Crewe meet Sirocco in the Steel & Sons Cup on August 11 and McMullan hopes to have success with the Intermediate A side.
“On first impressions I’ve been very impressed with the club,” he said.
“It’s well run, there are great facilities and they are looking to get to the next level and I’d be delighted if I could help them get there.”
