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 was lured to join the Manchester United’s youth system for a £100,000 fee. Four years later Nick made his first team debut for the Red Devils when he came on as a late substitute for Raimond ven der Gouw in a Premier League match at Arsenal – his debut was reckoned to have lasted no more than 30 seconds and was regarded as the Premier League’s shortest debut. 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.
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. Nick spent 2001/02 season on loan at Scottish side Livingston, adding another 25 starts to his tally but in the 2002 close season his time at Manchester United drew to a close and he was snapped up by League Division 2 side Queens Park Rangers. Culkin was used sporadically at QPR over the next two seasons in which he made 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 2010 he came out of retirement and spent five years playing non-league football in the Manchester area. He was twice player of the season at Radcliffe Borough, when he signed for FC United of Manchester fro Prescot Cables in March 2014 he became the first footballer to have made senior appearances for both Manchester United and protest club FC United. He retired again in 2015, by which time he had established his own garden maintenance business in the North West Manchester area.
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 (2014-2015)
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 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |