“I was working at a golf course, serving behind the bar and raking bunkers,” he recalls. “It was almost a gap year while I waited to see if football was a viable option or whether I’d need to go to university. Thankfully I got picked up by Cambridge and, well, here I am.”
Or, more accurately, there he was. After 13 years, 464 appearances and two promotions, the 33-year-old has finally called time on his love affair with the U’s.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” admits Dunk, who is the club’s fifth alltime appearance maker behind Steve Fallon, Harvey Cornwell, Steve Spriggs and Russell Crane.
“And I’m sure that there’ll be sadness when it does. But I knew it was coming. The last few years, I’ve been struggling with my knees. This season, I’ve had two operations. I never got going and I came to a decision with the club that it was probably time to see what the next step is.
“I’m not officially retiring. I’ll have a bit of time out, see how the body recovers. But whatever happens, I’ve lived the dream at this club and I’ve got memories that will last forever.”
Chief amongst those is the victory over Gateshead at Wembley in 2014 that ended the U’s decade-long exile from the Football League.
Denne historien er fra April 28, 2024-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
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Denne historien er fra April 28, 2024-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Mousinho revels in a happy return
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DUFF LAUDS COURAGE OF HIS TERRIERS
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HORNETS STING IS PAIN FOR CARRICK
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SALECH MAKES A POINT WITH HIS LATE LEVELLER
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Sargent takes Tigers by the tail again
JOSH Sargent once again proved a thorn in Hull City’s side, as his header earned play-off-chasing Norwich City a valuable point against the struggling Tigers.
AFTER INJURY KO, ACE STEVENS JUST WANTS A DECENT SHOT AT LGE ONE
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Talented technician who stars in the pocket
LUKE Cundle spent his formative years at Wolves watching Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves strut their stuff.
PREM DREAM EXCITES JOHN
WHILE he enters a relegation battle, John Eustace has set his long-term sights on taking Derby County back to the Premier League.
IT'S JOY FOR JOSH, SAM AND GEORGE
JOSH Windass, Sam Smith and George Abbott have been rewarded for their stunning strikes with the Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month awards for January.
ADAMS HAILS HIS BATTLING SHRIMPS SIDE
DEREK Adams was full of praise for his Morecambe side after their vital derby-day victory over Accrington Stanley.
