Biography
Goalkeeper Nicholas James “Nick” Culkin was born in York and came through the youth system at York City. In September 1995 the 17 year old Culkin joined Manchester United’s youth academy with the Minstermen receiving a £100,000 fee. He worked his way through the youth team levels at the Red Devils and in December 1997 he was chosen for the first time as first team matchday substitute. He fulfilled that role on another six occasions during the next twelve months, in August 1999 Nick made his first team debut for the Red Devils when he came on as a late substitute for Raimond van der Gouw in a Premier League match at Arsenal – his time on the pitch was reckoned to have lasted 13 seconds and was regarded as the Premier League’s shortest debut. It proved to be his only first team appearance for Manchester United.
Four months later in December 1999 he joined Hull City on a month’s loan. Manager Warren Joyce had struggled for half a season to solve the goalkeeping situation in his squad, juggling local youngster Steve Wilson and the experienced but unpredictable Lee Bracey. City had just returned another loan keeper, Stephen Bywater, when Culkin came in. He started four games over the festive period that yielded a win and three draws with only one goal conceded – impressive form. However Nick’s loan spell ended in mid-January 2000 and Steve Wilson became City’s first regular goalkeeper for the new millennium.
Returning to Manchester United, Culkin spent the whole of the 2000/01 season at League Division 2 side Bristol Rovers and while the Gas ended the season being relegated to the fourth tier, Culkin had played well during his 54 starts. In October 2001 Nick joined newly promoted Scottish Premier League side Livingston on a loan deal that extended to the end of the 2001/02 season, adding another 25 starts to his tally and helping Livi finish third in the League.
In the 2002 close season his time at Manchester United drew to a close and in July 2002 he was snapped up by League Division 2 side Queens Park Rangers. Culkin made his first team debut for the Rs against Chesterfield in August 2002 but for the next two seasons he was used sporadically, making 25 appearances. A third season at QPR yielded no appearances and in April 2005 he retired from the professional game due to a persistent knee injury.
In August 2010 he came out of retirement and spent several years playing non-league football in the Manchester area. He was twice player of the season at Northern Premier League side Radcliffe Borough, then in November 2012 he moved on to Northern Premier League side Prescot Cables. In March 2014 he signed for Northern Premier League side FC United of Manchester, a club set up in protest about the ownership of Manchester United – Culkin became the first footballer to have made senior appearances for both United and protest club FC United. He retired again in 2018, by which time he had established his own garden maintenance business in the North West Manchester area. He returned to action a third time in the 2023/24 season, making two appearances for newly formed Cheshire League side Stretford Paddock.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 6 July 1978, York
Hull City First Game: 26 December 1999, Darlington A (League Division 3), 21 years, 173 days old
Hull City Final Game: 22 January 2000, Cheltenham Town H (League Division 3), 21 years, 200 days old
Clubs
York City (1994-1995), Manchester United (1995-2002), Hull City (1999-2000, loan), Bristol Rovers (2000-2001, loan), Livingston (2001-2002, loan), Queens Park Rangers (2002-2005), Radcliffe Borough (2010-2012), Prescot Cables (2012-2014), FC United of Manchester (2014-2018), Stretford Paddock (2023)
Hull City Record
Career: 4 apps, 0 goals
Nick Culkin| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999/00 | 4 (0) | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |