[Player Pics]

A product of Celtic Boys Club Steve Fulton was another young Celt who failed to live up to unfair expectations.

In an interview in his early, then Celtic manager Billy McNeil made the cringing comment that Steve Fulton could be Celtic's "Baggio" (a reference to the world class Italian midfield player who was the most expensive player in the world at that point and who later became a national hero (and villain?) for Italy in the World Cup in 1994). A remark that was like a monkey on Steve Fulton's back from then on in, making him an unneccessary target for mockery (well, that and his fat arse!).

The Greenock-born midfielder signed professional terms with the Hoops in May 1987 and would make his first team debut on October 8th 1988 when he came on as a sub in a 7-1 league thrashing of St Mirren at Parkhead. By the turn of the decade hopes were high that the left-footed Fulton would be the man to fill the boots of the great Tommy Burns in the Bhoys midfield.

He had certainly shown some glimpses of real ability and vision, with pin-point crossfield passes. However, perhaps unsurprisingly given the poor state of Celtic at this time, Fulton never fulfilled the potential his early performances promised and a once promising young career looked in danger of being over before it had really begun.

In July 1993 Bolton paid £300,000 for the midfielder who had played 96 times for the Hoops and scored 6 goals. But the move to Lancashire was unsuccesful and he would return north to Falkirk in August 1994 before going on to play several years with Hearts.