Born in Peterborough, Julian grew up in Boston before becoming an apprentice at Filbert Street. He scored many goals for the youth team. At the start of his second year as an apprentice, a year ahead of schedule, he signed professional forms.
Julian had electrifying speed, made memorable solo runs and had a great ability to turn his marker. He had a good first touch, great strength and a low centre of gravity. Some of his goals were unforgettable.
Manager Brian Little gave Julian his debut two weeks after his 18th birthday in a second tier fixture against Barnsley. He scored his first senior goal three days later in a League Cup tie at Peterborough. He went on to make 31 first team appearances that season, scoring 13 goals, two of which were spectacular.
His goal from 25 yards out, in an FA Cup match at Barnsley, was the BBC Goal of the Month and the runner-up for Goal of the Season. His vital goal against Portsmouth in the First Division Play-Off Semi-Final was also unforgettable.
During that season, Julian went to Australia with England to play in the World Youth Championship, scoring the winning goal against Australia. A few months later, he starred in the England Under-18s side which won the UEFA European Championship, beating Turkey 1-0 in the showpiece in Nottingham. He also scored in the 1993 First Division Play-Off Final against Glenn Hoddle’s Swindon Town.
The following season (1993/94), he became an England Under-21s international and was involved in Steve Walsh’s winning goal in the 1994 Play-Off Final against Derby County.
Back in the top flight, he scored the Club’s first-ever goal in the recently formed Premier League and then scored twice against Tottenham Hotspur in the Club’s maiden Premier League win. Not long afterwards, he broke his fifth metatarsal. This caused him to miss most of the second half of the season, which ended in Leicester City being relegated.
Julian was back in the first team the following year, but in February 1996, after making 119 appearances for the City, he moved for a reported fee of £1.5M to Little’s high-flying Aston Villa in the Premier League.
After five and a half years at Villa, he had spells at Coventry City, Leeds United, Walsall, Boston United and Darlington. He then played for a host of non-league clubs. Since retiring from playing, he has co-founded Player Trader, a platform to help players connect with professional teams and scouts.