Willie Goodsir Cullen, though unknown to most of the today’s hockey lovers, was one of the great hockey personalities of primitive era of Indian Hockey. He was a key member of the Indian team which took the Indian hockey to the pinnacle of the world hockey by winning gold at Amsterdam in 1928 Olympic Games. The 2007 is the centenary year of this great Olympian and this author likes to share the golden memories on his birth centenary with hockey lovers all over the world.
Born on March, 29, 1907 at Firozpur (Punjab), Willie Goodsir Cullen came from a family with Military background. His father was in British Army & his mother was a Nurse in the Army. He & his younger brother Ernie took to hockey from an early age and soon hockey became a passion for both the brothers. In fact they attracted to hockey listening to stories of Joseph George Ulasterson, a cousin brother of their mother, who was a good hockey player and had introduced hockey in Australia. Both of them started capturing headlines, while still studying in St. George College Mussoorie. This college later produced 6 hockey Olympians within a decade. They were – Willie Cullen (1928), his brother Ernie Cullen (1936), Michael Gateley (1928) George Eric Marthius (1928), Carlyle Tapsell (1932 & 1936) & L.C.Emmett (1936).
Willie represented U.P. in the Ist National Hockey Championship, held in Calcutta in 1928 and due to his brilliant performance in the championship he won a place in the Indian Hockey team for the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928.
Willie Cullen was in the playing eleven as left half in three matches against Australia, Switzerland and Holland respectively. His rock like defence and tackling abilities proved a great help in diminishing his opponents. Thus his contribution was not lessen by any means in India’s maiden gold medal triumph. After Amsterdam, though he continued playing hockey but could not get any other chance to represent country. His younger brother Ernie Cullen was selected in the Indian Hockey team in Berlin Olympic (1936).
After retiring from active Hockey, Willie joined his uncle in his profession and thereafter served in a Oil Company. During the second World war, he joined Army and posted in Canada for several years. In or about 1950, he went to Australia and settled there. He died in 1998 in New South Wales, Australia at the age of 91.
Willie Cullen will always be remembered with great respect for his valuable contribution to Indian Hockey and stout defence in the traditional left half position. A house in St. George College of Mussoorie is still named after him during its sports meets. We pay our noble homage on behalf of the Indian Hockey lovers to this great hockey player of Dhyan Chand era on his birth centenary.
Courtesy: www.sportsbharti.com