William Goodsir-Cullen, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetWilliam Goodsir-Cullen
field hockey player
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Firozpur, Punjab, India
About William Goodsir-Cullen
- William "Willie" James Goodsir-Cullen (29 March 1907 in Firozpur – 15 June 1994 in Wyoming, New South Wales, Australia) was an Indian field hockey player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics. He was a member of the Indian field hockey team, which won the gold medal.
- He played three matches as halfback or forward. His younger brother Earnest won the gold medal for India in the 1936 field hockey tournament. William Goodsir-Cullen is unknown to most of today's hockey lovers.
- He was a great hockey personalities of the betimes era of Indian hockey.
- A key member of the Indian hockey team, William Goodsir-Cullen won the gold at Amsterdam in the 1928 Olympic Games.
- William "Willie" James Goodsir-Cullen was born on March 29, 1907 in Ferozepur District, India. He was born to a family with a military background.
- His mother was a nurse in the army and his father was in British Army.
- From an early age, Willie and his younger brother Ernie were interested in hockey.
- The game soon became a passion for both the brothers.
- Joseph George Ulasterson was a good hockey player and had introduced hockey in Australia.
- This noted Australian player was a cousin brother of their mother.
- The stories of Ulasterson also helped a lot to increase their attraction to hockey. The Cullen brothers from the years at St.
- George's College, Mussoorie, started captivating the headlines.
- In a span of 8 years, this college gave rise to 6 hockey Olympians.
- They were: 1928 - Willie Cullen, Michael Gateley, George Eric Marthins 1932 - Carlyle Tapsell 1936 - Ernie Cullen,Carlyle Tapsell, Lionel EmmettIn the year 1928 Willie delineated United Provinces in the inaugural National Hockey Championship.
- The championship was held at Calcutta (now Kolkata).
- He had shown his brilliant performance in the championship.
- Willie Cullen won a place in the Indian hockey team, which was preparing at the time for the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics for that. His defence was attributed with the adjective 'rock-like defence' and confronting abilities proved to be a great help in stopping his opponents.
- This remains a key contribution to India's inaugural Olympic gold triumph. Ernie carried on to play hockey after returning from Amsterdam, but could not get any other chance to represent the country.
- Ernest John Goodsir-Cullen, his younger brother, was elected for the Indian hockey team, which was played in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
- In the 1936 field hockey tournament, Indian national team won the gold medal for India.
- Willie joined his uncle in his profession after retiring from active hockey, and thereafter also served in an oil company.
- Willie joined the Army, during World War II.
- Later he got posted to Canada.
- In or around 1950, Willie went to Australia and settled there.
- At the age of 91, he died in 1998 in New South Wales, Australia. With his sturdy defence in the traditional left-half position, Willie Cullen will be retrieved with great respect for his worthy contribution to Indian hockey in the 1928 Olympics.
- To show honour to this noted player, his alma mater, St.
- George's College, Mussorie, has a 4-house system for their inter-class sports meets and the green house has been named after this Cullen brothers, is called the Cullen's' house.
- 2007 is the centenary year of this great Olympian.
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