Spotlight on King's Lynn legend Danny Bloomfield
In his latest Caney's Corner column, Gavin Caney questions ex-Linnet Danny Bloomfield.
1) Danny. You're a very busy man so let's get right to it. You were flying at Norwich City Reserves and signed a one-year contract in 2001. How special did that feel and at that point, could you ever imagine doing anything other than being a player in the pro game?
At that moment, I honestly couldn’t see myself doing anything else. Being a footballer was all I ever wanted. The trial at Norwich came out of nowhere, and I jumped at the chance. I did really well over those four weeks, and they offered me a deal until the end of the season.
From January to May everything just seemed to click, and then they gave me another year which felt incredible.
It was such a special feeling because I’d always dreamed of being a pro, but I thought the chance had passed me by. I came into it late, at 17, so I knew I had to give it everything, make sacrifices, and walk away with no regrets.
2) You first joined Lynn on loan in late 2001 and impressed quickly, scoring seven goals in 10 games. Sometimes players and clubs just click - did you feel a special connection with the club from the word go?
Yeah, I felt an instant connection with the club and the supporters from day one. There was just something special about the place — the feel of it, the people, the old ground with all its character. I loved it straight away.
The lads made me feel welcome from the off, and I remember Kevin Boon in particular being an absolute diamond. He reminded me of my old non-League days, where everything was real, passionate, and a bit raw — and I loved that. He really wanted me there, and that meant a lot.
I honestly loved every spell I had at Lynn, but that first one sticks out because it’s where the connection began. I think the fans felt that too, and that means everything.
3) Upon returning to Norwich, you were eventually released and signed another pro deal at Bournemouth who were in financial turmoil. How long did it take you to realise things probably weren't going to work out there?
That move just never quite felt right from the start. I was still young, really hungry to keep pushing on as a pro, and I wanted it to work so badly — but the atmosphere around the club wasn’t great.
It was a tough time for Bournemouth financially, and the dressing room felt quite cliquey, not the most welcoming bunch if I’m honest.
I always felt like I was climbing uphill there. After three or four months, I realised it probably wasn’t going to work out and decided I needed to take control of my own path. Looking back now, though, it was a great learning experience.
Those tough moments really shaped me, and the south coast is still a fantastic part of the country.
4) You bagged a host of goals for Cambridge City but signed for Lynn, permanently this time, in May 2005, even though you could have been playing in the Conference South. How much did the loan spell affect your decision to return to The Walks?
King’s Lynn has always had a bit of a pull over me. My loan spell there definitely played a big part in my decision to come back because it just felt like home.
I really enjoyed my time at Cambridge City — it’s a great club with some brilliant people — but the manager and I didn’t see eye to eye.
There’s a bit of a funny story there, because I’d decided early on I wasn’t going to re-sign, mainly because of him.
A lot of the lads said the same, but I was the only one who actually left! For me, it was about integrity — I couldn’t play for someone I didn’t respect.
When Lynn showed interest, there was only ever one place I wanted to be.
5) As the 16-goal top scorer, rumours where everywhere you'd be going to Peterborough or Cambridge United. Did you think the pro dream was back on? And in your words, how and why did you end up at Histon in February 2006?
Yeah, I remember that time really clearly — and I’m still convinced I scored more than 16 goals, so we might need to check the records on that one!
The rumours about Peterborough and Cambridge United were real, and it definitely felt like the pro dream might be back on.
I really fancied both clubs, especially with Tommy Taylor at Peterborough — I loved playing for him.
But the truth is, I was settled and happy at Lynn. I loved the club, the fans, and everything about playing there.
So when Histon came in, I wasn’t that keen at first. But the club had financial problems, and I knew my move would help clear some debts.
That made it easier to accept. Histon were ambitious, they really wanted me, and it just felt like the right move for everyone — even if leaving Lynn hurt.
6) Heybridge Swifts came next before a surprise return to Lynn. How would you rank that final spell compared with the other two? All three saw plenty of goals and adulation from the terraces; which one did you think you played and the best and enjoyed the most?
I hated my time at Heybridge Swifts — honestly, every minute of it. It just didn’t work out for me, though I don’t regret it because I learned a lot and it reinforced how important it is to find the right club with the right people.
Returning to King’s Lynn was a completely different story. Keith Webb, who I knew from my Norwich days, was in charge, and I made sure he knew how much I wanted to come back.
That final spell was arguably my most successful — we won the league, and I felt like I’d come home.
The club had grown, we had a fantastic team, and I probably played some of my best football there.
Each spell was special in its own way, but that last one really felt like a culmination of everything I loved about the club.
7) What were your favourite moments from the memorable 2007-08 Southern League Premier Division title-winning campaign; one where you scored 20 goals!
There were some unbelievable memories from that season. On the pitch, I loved scoring goals, especially the ones that came at the end of tough games — whether it was to grab a point or snatch a win.
There’s nothing like that feeling of seeing the ball hit the net and then running over to celebrate with the supporters.
Away from the pitch, the dressing room was full of incredible characters. The pranks we pulled, the banter, and the leaders who set the tone made every day special.
You could tell when you were surrounded by winners, people who would give everything for the team. That season had grit, spirit, and joy in equal measure — and scoring 20 goals while winning the title made it all unforgettable.
8) Would you have hung around longer had Lynn been promoted to the then Blue Square (Conference) South? And how did you feel knowing you were leaving The Walks for good?
One million per cent, I’d have stayed if we’d gone into the South. I didn’t want to play anywhere else — King’s Lynn was home.
By that point it was my third spell, and I wanted it to be my last until I retired. I did try to make it work when we went up to the Conference North.
I gave it a few months, but living in Ipswich meant even the closest away games were two to two-and-a-half hours away.
I was desperate to stay, but the travel just became too much. Leaving Lynn felt like losing a family member.
The connection I had with the club and the fans was so strong — it really hurt to say goodbye, but in the end, I knew it was the right time.
9) Your final playing days were much closer to home in Suffolk. What stood out as memorable moments and was it an easy call to hang the boots up in 2019 while at AFC Sudbury?
Many of my happiest football moments are tied to playing for King’s Lynn, and there are so many I look back on fondly.
My first game and goal for the club was away at Grantham in a midweek match.
The pitch was a mud bath, the changing rooms tiny and freezing — a real raw non-League experience. I scored the winning goal with about 10-15 minutes to go, and we won 1-0. That moment really started the love story between me and King’s Lynn.
From there, memories kept coming — record-breaking runs, winning the league, a 10-game scoring streak, dressing room banter, coach trips, and long journeys to training.
Hanging up my boots in 2019 at AFC Sudbury was a straightforward decision. Life had changed, and I needed to focus on family and business.
I loved helping with the academy and guiding players on the pitch, but my body was telling me it was time. Looking back, I can feel real pride for every chapter of my career.
10) Finally, just tell the readers quickly about your phenomenal business achievements that sees you juggling several businesses, including a property portfolio, and parenting as one half of a power couple alongside your equally successful wife Katie.
Katie and I love working together — both in business and as parents. We’re passionate about showing our children, and others, that you can be successful while staying ethical, kind, and true to your values.
Life isn’t about coming from privilege; it’s about resilience, attitude, and how you respond to challenges.
Between us, we run multiple businesses, including a multi-million-pound property portfolio and a property development company, while coaching other entrepreneurs to build their own version of a wealthy, successful life.
We’re also professional speakers, and we love sharing what we’ve learned.
Balancing work, parenting six children in a blended family, and running these ventures is challenging, but incredibly rewarding — and we hope to inspire others to show that integrity and success can absolutely go hand in hand.
Factfile
Name: Danny Bloomfield
Age: 43
Lives in: Near Ipswich
High School: Orwell, Felixstowe
Previous clubs (selected): Felixstowe & Walton Utd FC, Norwich City, Bournemouth, Cambridge City, King's Lynn, Histon, Lowestoft Town, Needham Mkt, AFC Sudbury
Position: Striker
Honours (selected): Southern League Premier title (2007-08), Various golden boots, Cambridgeshire County Premier Cup (2004)
Sporting hero: Gary Lineker
Twitter: @dblooms10
Instagram: @the_bloomfields_life
Five Fast Facts
His wife Katie surprised him with dancing lessons last year, and together they learnt the waltz. His football footwork actually came in handy — they even called him Twinkle Toes!
Before signing for Norwich, Danny played county cricket. The discipline, focus, and teamwork he learnt through cricket have shaped how he approaches everything he does today.
Bloomfield started his first business at 21, running after-school football coaching sessions for children. It gave him his first real taste of entrepreneurship — the freedom, energy and the drive to create something meaningful from scratch.
The ex-Linnets' first job was at Homebase when he was 16 - and absolutely hated it! But that experience lit a fire in him and made him determined to build a life and career doing work that inspires him, not drains me.
Being a dad to six amazing children is what Danny considers as his greatest achievement. Three are his biological children and three are stepchildren, but in the family home they don’t focus on step or half and he doesn't like the term ‘real dad’ — because he is very real to all of them.
Quickfire Questions
Restaurant or takeaway?
Film or series?
Bath or shower?
Tea or coffee?
Sweet or savoury?
Summer or winter?
Day or night?
Holiday or staycation?
Favourite food: Salmon
Least favourite: Highly manufactured kids fridge snacks like Peperami, chicken fridge raiders etc
Favourite TV programme: Friends and recently Ted Lasso
Least favourite TV programme: Something like Casualty
Favourite band/musician: No stand out favourite, liked McFly
Least favourite band/musician: Any that wear sunglasses indoors in the winter for an interview
Favourite film: Coach Carter
: Anything scary/gory