Craig Fulton

Last updated

Craig Fulton
Born (1974-11-06) 6 November 1974 (age 50) [1]
Harare, Zimbabwe [2]
Spouse Natalie Fulton
Children Milla Fulton
Relatives Grant Fulton (brother)
Field hockey career
Height 5 ft 8.5 in (174.0 cm)
Playing position Midfielder/Forward
Senior career
YearsTeam
199x–1998 Northern Transvaal [3]
1999–2005 Chelmsford
2005–2010 Pembroke Wanderers
National team
YearsTeamCapsGoals
1996–2005Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 191 (2)
Coaching career
1999–2005 Chelmsford
199x–200x Felsted School
2005–2010 Pembroke Wanderers
2010–2014 University of Pretoria
2010–2014 Northern Blues
2014–2018 Ireland
2018–2023 Belgium (assistant)
2023– India

Craig Fulton (born 6 November 1974) is a South African coach and former field hockey player. He currently coaches the India men's national team and formerly coached the Ireland men's national team. As a player he represented South Africa at the 1996 and 2004 Summer Olympics and at the 2002 Men's Hockey World Cup. As a player-coach with Pembroke Wanderers he won two Irish Senior Cups, two Men's Irish Hockey League titles and the EuroHockey Club Trophy. As a coach Fulton guided Ireland to third place at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship and to qualification for both the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. While coaching Ireland, Fulton was named the 2015 FIH Men's Coach of the Year. He was assistant coach of the Belgium team that won the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. He is currently the coach of the India men's national field hockey team and guided them to an Olympic Bronze Medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Contents

Early years and education

Fulton was educated at Pretoria Boys High School and Stellenbosch University. [4]

Domestic teams

Chelmsford

Between 1999 and 2005 Fulton served as player/coach of Chelmsford in the Men's England Hockey League. [5] [6] [7] In September 2002, while in Pretoria, Fulton was hospitalised after he and his then girlfriend and later wife Natalie, interrupted a suspected burglar at his home. Fulton was reportedly stabbed or slashed seven times during the incident. [8] [9] In 2004 he guided Chelmsford to promotion to the Premier Division. [10] During this time Fulton also coached field hockey at Felsted School. [11]

Pembroke Wanderers

In 2005 Fulton was appointed director of coaching and player/coach to the senior men's team at Pembroke Wanderers. [10] [12] [13] With a team that included David and Conor Harte, Ronan Gormley, Stuart Loughrey, Justin Sheriff, Alan Sothern and Ian Symons, Fulton subsequently guided Wanderers to five national titles in four seasons. These included the 2006 All-Ireland Men's Club Championship, [14] two Irish Senior Cup wins in 2008 [15] and 2009 [16] [17] and to two Men's Irish Hockey League titles in 2008–09 [18] and 2009–10. [19] They also won the 2009 EuroHockey Club Trophy. [20]

South Africa international

Fulton represented South Africa at the 1996 and 2004 Summer Olympics and at the 2002 Men's Hockey World Cup. His brother, Grant, and his wife, Natalie, were also South Africa field hockey internationals. The brothers were teammates at the 1996 Olympics. [2] [21] [22] In 2004 Fulton and his wife became the first married couple to represent South Africa at the same Olympic Games. [23] [24]

TournamentsPlace
1996 Hockey Africa Cup of Nations [3] 1st
1996 Summer Olympics [2] 10th
1998 Commonwealth Games 5th
1997 Men's Hockey World Cup Qualifier 9th
2000 Hockey Africa Cup of Nations [25] 1st
2001 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge 2nd
2002 Men's Hockey World Cup 13th
2002 Commonwealth Games [26] 4th
2003 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge 3rd
2004 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier 7th
2004 Summer Olympics [2] [7] 10th
2005 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup [10] [27] 7th

Coach

South Africa

Between 2011 and 2014, after returning to South Africa, Fulton held several coaching positions including serving as Assistant Coach of both the women's (2011) and men's (2013–2014) national teams. He also coached the Northern Blues at interprovincial level and served as technical director with the University of Pretoria while his wife, Natalie, served as the club manager. [28] [29] [30] [31] [32]

Ireland

Between 2006 and 2009, in addition to being player/coach at Pembroke Wanderers, Fulton also served as Assistant Coach of the Ireland men's national field hockey team, first to Dave Passmore and then to Paul Revington. [11] [13] [28] In 2014 he succeeded Andrew Meredith as the senior Ireland coach. [28] [33] [31] Fulton subsequently guided Ireland to third place at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship, to World League Round 2 tournament wins in 2015 [34] and 2017 and to qualification for both the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. [35] While coaching Ireland, Fulton was also named the 2015 FIH Men's Coach of the Year. [36] [37] In May 2018 he resigned as Ireland coach after accepting an offer to become Belgium's assistant coach. [13] [38] [39] [40]

Belgium

In May 2018 Fulton was appointed Assistant Coach of the Belgium men's national field hockey team. [41] [42] He was assistant coach when Belgium won the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup [43] [44] [45] and Field hockey at the 2020 Summer Olympics. [46]

India

In March 2023 Fulton was appointed as Head Coach of the Indian national hockey team. [47] He guided Indian hockey team to a Bronze medal in 2024 Paris Olympics [48]

Personal life

His brother Grant and wife Natalie were also South Africa field hockey players. In 2004, Fulton and his wife became the first married couple to represent South Africa at the same Olympic Games.

His child, Milla, were Ireland indoor hockey player, 2023 Nkosi Cup in senior caps. [49] [50]

Honours

Player

South Africa

Player/coach

Pembroke Wanderers

Coach

Ireland
Individual

Related Research Articles

Mary Goode is a former Ireland women's field hockey international. She has also played senior club field hockey for Pembroke Wanderers and Hermes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India men's national field hockey team</span> Mens field hockey team representing India

The India men's national field hockey team represents India in international field hockey competitions. The team is governed by the association Hockey India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireland men's national field hockey team</span>

The Ireland men's national field hockey team is organised by Hockey Ireland and represents both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in international men's field hockey competitions, including the Men's Hockey World Cup and the EuroHockey Nations Championship. They have previously competed in the Men's Intercontinental Cup, the Hockey Champions Challenge, the Men's FIH Hockey World League and the FIH Hockey Series. The team also competes at the Summer Olympics, though it officially only represents the Republic of Ireland then, while still selecting players from the entire island. On 26 January 1895 Ireland played in the first ever international field hockey match when they defeated Wales 3–0 in Rhyl. Ireland were finalists and silver medallists at the 1908 Summer Olympics. Ireland were also bronze medallists at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belgium men's national field hockey team</span> Mens national field hockey team representing Belgium

The Belgian national men's field hockey team represents Belgium in international men's field hockey and is controlled by the Royal Belgian Hockey Association, the governing body for field hockey in Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club</span>

Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club is a field hockey club based in the Sandymount/Ballsbridge area of Dublin 4, Ireland. The club was founded in 1922 and named for the area of Pembroke, Dublin. The club's senior men's team plays in the Men's Irish Hockey League and the Men's Irish Senior Cup. The club's senior women's team plays in the Women's Irish Hockey League and the Women's Irish Senior Cup. Reserve teams play in the Irish Junior Cup and the Women's Irish Junior Cup. Pembroke has also represented Ireland in European competitions. They won the 2009 EuroHockey Club Trophy.

Natalie Fulton, also known as Natalie Haynes, is a former South Africa women's field hockey international. She represented South Africa at the 2002 Women's Hockey World Cup and at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Nikki Symmons is a former Ireland women's field hockey international. Symmons is also a former Ireland women's cricket international. Between 2001 and 2013 Symmons made 208 appearances and scored 31 goals for Ireland. She represented Ireland at six Women's EuroHockey Nations Championships, during three Olympic qualification campaigns and during three Women's Hockey World Cup qualification campaigns. Symmons played in four Irish Senior Cup finals for Loreto. In 2008–09 she was also a member of the Loreto team that won the inaugural Women's Irish Hockey League title. In 2011 she was a member of the Loreto team that won the EuroHockey Club Champion's Challenge II. In 2015 she was inducted into the European Hockey Federation Hall of Fame. Since 2014 Symmons has worked in Lausanne as a Digital Manager for the International Hockey Federation.

David Harte is an Ireland men's field hockey international. He captained Ireland at both the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. He was also a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. At club level, he was a member of the SV Kampong team that won the 2015–16 Euro Hockey League. Harte has won national league titles in Ireland, the Netherlands and Malaysia and has played in the Hockey India League. In both 2015 and 2016 he was named the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year. Harte's twin brother, Conor, and his sister, Emer, are also Ireland field hockey internationals. The Harte brothers have lined out together with eight different field hockey teams – Bandon Grammar School, Cork Harlequins, Pembroke Wanderers, DCU, SCHC, Dabang Mumbai, Munster and Ireland.

The Men's Irish Hockey League is a field hockey league organised by Hockey Ireland that features men's teams from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The league was first played for during the 2008–09 season. It replaced the All-Ireland Club Championships as the top level men's field hockey competition in Ireland. Since 2015–16 the league has been sponsored by Ernst & Young and, as a result, it is also known as the EY Hockey League.

John Jackson is an Ireland men's field hockey international. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He also represented Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics. At club level, he has played for both Loughborough Students and Reading in the Euro Hockey League. He also won the EHA Cup with Reading in 2014–15.

Michael Watt is a former Ireland men's field hockey international. Between 2006 and 2016 Watt made 201 appearances and scored 54 goals for Ireland. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He also represented Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics. At club level, Watt has won the Irish Senior Cup with Instonians, the Scottish Hockey Cup with Grange and the Men's Irish Hockey League with Lisnagarvey. He also played and scored for both Grange and Surbiton in the Euro Hockey League.

John Jermyn is a former Ireland men's field hockey international. Between 2002 and 2018 Jermyn made 179 appearances and scored 93 goals for Ireland. He represented Ireland at the 2007 and 2011 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championships and at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2012, Jermyn set the new record as career top goal scorer for Ireland, eventually increasing the record to 93 goals by the end of his career with the national team; his record was not broken until 2018.

Peter Caruth is an Ireland men's field hockey international. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He also represented Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics. At club level he has won Men's Irish Hockey League titles and the EuroHockey Club Trophy with Monkstown and the Kirk Cup with Annadale.

Michael Darling, also referred to as Mitch Darling, is a former Ireland men's field hockey international and Rio 2016 Olympian. Between 2006 and 2018 Darling made 183 appearances and scored 51 goals for Ireland. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He also represented Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics and at the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. At club level, Darling has won the Irish Senior Cup with Three Rock Rovers. He also played for Rovers in the Euro Hockey League.

Paul Gleghorne is an Ireland men's field hockey international. He was a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He also represented Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. At club level, he has won the Men's Irish Hockey League with Lisnagarvey. Gleghorne comes from a family of field hockey internationals. His older brother, Mark, has played for Ireland, England and Great Britain. Two of his aunts, Margaret Gleghorne and Jackie McWilliams, were also Ireland and Great Britain women's internationals.

Conor Harte is an Ireland men's field hockey international. He played for Ireland at both the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. He was also a member of the Ireland team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Championship. Harte has won national league titles in Ireland and has played in the Hockey India League. Harte's twin brother, David, and his sister, Emer, are also Ireland field hockey internationals. The Harte brothers have lined out together with eight different field hockey teams – Bandon Grammar School, Cork Harlequins, Pembroke Wanderers, DCU, SCHC, Dabang Mumbai, Munster and Ireland.

Nicola Daly, also referred to as Nicci Daly or Nikki Daly, is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. In 2010 Daly was a member of the Loreto team that won the Irish Senior Cup. Daly has also played senior ladies' Gaelic football for Dublin. Since 2016 Daly has worked in motorsport as a data engineer for Juncos Racing.

Alison Meeke, also referred to as Ali Meeke, is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. Meeke has also won Irish Senior Cup and Women's Irish Hockey League titles with Loreto.

Stuart Loughrey is an Ireland men's field hockey international. He played for Ireland at the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup.

David Fitzgerald is an Irish hockey player. He plays for men's field hockey international. He was the reserve goalkeeper in the Ireland squad that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He was also in the squads that represented Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics and at the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. Between 2007–08 and 2016–17, Fitzgerald played in six Irish Senior Cup finals for Monkstown. He was also a member of the Monkstown team that won three successive Men's Irish Hockey League titles between 2012–13 and 2014–15. He was Goalkeeper of the Tournament when Monkstown won the 2014 EuroHockey Club Trophy.

References

  1. ↑ "Craig Fulton". olympic.org. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Craig Fulton". www.sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Men Field Hockey 5th Africa Nations Cup". todor66.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  4. ↑ "Craig Fulton". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "Hockey: New season, new faces". www.gazette-news.co.uk. 2 October 1999. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "Hockey: Chelmsford taste difference between the divisions". www.halsteadgazette.co.uk. 8 March 2002. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Hockey: Fulton Olympians begin battle". www.independent.co.uk. 2 October 2004. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "Top hockey player slashed 7 times by intruder". www.iol.co.za. 5 September 2002. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  9. ↑ "Chelmsford Hockey player stabbed 7 times during home raid". www.gazette-news.co.uk. 9 September 2002. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 "Pembroke announce South African appointment". www.rte.ie. 14 June 2007. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Who is the next in line?". southernfriedhockey.com. 6 September 2008. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  12. ↑ "Fulton and the Pembroke influence". www.hookhockey.com. 5 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. 1 2 3 "'If Ireland get to the top five in the world, are we still amateur? At what point does it change?'". www.the42.ie. 10 June 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  14. ↑ "ESB All-Ireland Men's Club Championship Hockey Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 28 May 2006. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  15. ↑ "Monkstown v Pembroke Wanderers - Irish Senior Cup Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 19 April 2008. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  16. ↑ "Pembroke hit Cookstown for six". www.hookhockey.com. 26 April 2009. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ↑ "Pembroke take successive Irish Senior Cup titles". www.pembrokewanderers.ie. 27 April 2009. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  18. ↑ "Men take 2009 IHL crown". www.pembrokewanderers.ie. 10 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  19. ↑ "Men's Irish Hockey League Final Pembroke Wanderers vs Lisnagarvey". inpho.ie. 16 May 2010. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  20. ↑ "Pembroke claim European Gold at Serpentine Avenue". www.pembrokewanderers.ie. 13 April 2009. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  21. ↑ "Grant Fulton". www.sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  22. ↑ "Natalie Fulton". www.sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  23. ↑ "Man and wife team for Athens". www.news24.com. 19 July 2004. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  24. ↑ "Van Zyls add to married couples at Games". www.supersport.com. 30 May 2016. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  25. ↑ "Men Field Hockey 6th Africa Nations Cup". www.todor66.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  26. ↑ "Commonwealth Games squad going for gold". www.iol.co.za. 5 June 2002. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  27. ↑ "SA hockey team's new look". Cape Argus . 20 May 2005. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  28. 1 2 3 "Irish Hockey Announce Craig Fulton as National Men's Coach". eurohockey.org. 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  29. ↑ "New coach for SA hockey men". www.sport24.co.za. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  30. ↑ "Two School Boys in U21 IPT Winning Hockey Team". ysn.co.za. 15 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  31. 1 2 "Craig Fulton Lands Irish Men's Job". www.up.ac.za. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  32. ↑ "5 Choices for the SA Hockey Coach". allthingsjabu.co.za. 17 January 2014. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  33. ↑ "South African Craig Fulton named as new Ireland coach". www.bbc.co.uk. 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  34. ↑ "Craig Fulton aiming for Argentina with Rio next on horizon". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 11 March 2015. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  35. ↑ "Ireland Set To Enjoy Indian Summer After First World Cup Qualification In 28 Years". www.balls.ie. 23 July 2017. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  36. ↑ "Craig Fulton - Hockey Stars 2015 Men's Coach of the Year". www.fih.ch. 10 February 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  37. ↑ "Another major award for Irish hockey as Craig Fulton scoops Coach of the Year prize". www.the42.ie. 27 January 2016. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  38. ↑ "Craig Fulton To Step Down As Green Machine Head Coach". www.hockey.ie. 31 May 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  39. ↑ "Big blow for Irish hockey as long-serving coach steps down in World Cup year". www.the42.ie. 31 May 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  40. ↑ "Ireland hockey: Men's head coach Craig Fulton steps down". www.bbc.co.uk. 31 May 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  41. ↑ "Head coach Craig Fulton to leave Ireland for Belgium role". www.rte.ie. 31 May 2018. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  42. ↑ "Craig Fulton steps down as Ireland hockey coach for Belgium role". www.irishtimes.com. 1 June 2018. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  43. ↑ "Former Ireland coach Craig Fulton celebrates Hockey World Cup win with Belgium". www.the42.ie. 31 May 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  44. ↑ "Craig Fulton helps guide Belgium to maiden hockey World Cup". www.irishtimes.com. 16 December 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  45. ↑ "Fulton's pride shines as the Red Lions claim World Cup crown". www.independent.ie. 17 December 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  46. ↑ Jonckheere, Karien. "Newly crowned hockey champs Belgium's SA connection". SuperSport. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  47. ↑ "Craig Fulton appointed as head coach of Indian men's hockey team".
  48. ↑ "India win Bronze".
  49. ↑ @craigfulton5 (16 December 2023). "Congrats Milla 1st Irish snr Indoor Cap☘️❤️ #Fulton5 #nats #asscoach#family#proud" – via Instagram.
  50. ↑ @sahockey_ (5 December 2024). "Player to Watch - Milla Fulton - Ireland" – via Instagram.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.