Jackie Fullerton
Encyclopedia
John Alexander "Jackie" Fullerton, MBE
(born 22 May 1943 in Ballymena
) is a Northern Irish television presenter and journalist
, who is currently a reporter and football commentator
for BBC Northern Ireland
.
, Derry City and Crusaders; winning the Irish League
title with the latter squad in the 1972/1973 season.
In addition to his football career, Fullerton also played cricket for Ballymena
.
. He was invited to work for the station by station controller Sidney Perry after participating in a penalty competition for the Sportscast programme. became the main sports anchor on UTV's evening magazine programme, Good Evening Ulster.
In his autobiography, Fullerton revealed he almost accepted a sports reporter position at Granada Television
in 1978, but decided to remain in Northern Ireland for the sake of his family. He also disclosed the controversy caused by rumours of an affair with Good Evening Ulster presenting colleague Gloria Hunniford
, which were untrue. It was during his time on Good Evening Ulster when, in 1980, Fullerton interviewed wrestler Giant Haystacks in the studio, who proceeded to slam him on the studio floor - a clip which has been repeated on various blooper
TV shows since.
In 2004, the BBC announced that Fullerton would no longer introduce the sport during BBC Newsline, but his reporting and commentating duties would still continue. The same year saw Fullerton undergo triple heart by-pass surgery following a period of ill health. He returned to commentary duties in January 2005.
In 2007, Sky Sports
obtained live broadcast rights to Northern Ireland's international matches for £10million. Rumours circulated at the time that Fullerton had been approached by the network to commentate on their coverage of Northern Ireland games. These rumours were unfounded when Fullerton disclosed while he had talks with Sky, he had signed a 'rolling contract' to remain with BBC Northern Ireland.
international David Healy
on the footballer's DVD, David Healy, The Talisman.
in 2010 for his services to sports journalism and his wide-ranging service to the community.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 22 May 1943 in Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
) is a Northern Irish television presenter and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, who is currently a reporter and football commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
.
Sporting career
Fullerton was previously a footballer for Irish league clubs CliftonvilleCliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
, Derry City and Crusaders; winning the Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
title with the latter squad in the 1972/1973 season.
In addition to his football career, Fullerton also played cricket for Ballymena
Ballymena Cricket Club
Ballymena Cricket Club is a cricket club in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, playing in the NCU Premier League.-Honours:*NCU Senior League: 1**1998*NCU Junior Cup: ‡4**1906, 1935, 1939, †84‡ 1 won by 2nd XI† Won by 2nd XI...
.
UTV
Fullerton's presenting career began in 1973 as a reporter and presenter for Ulster TelevisionUTV
UTV is a television channel based in the UK region of Northern Ireland. The channel is the Channel 3 or Independent Television licensee for Northern Ireland and is operated by UTV Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media.- Terrestrial :* Analogue: Normally tuned to 3 * Freeview : 3...
. He was invited to work for the station by station controller Sidney Perry after participating in a penalty competition for the Sportscast programme. became the main sports anchor on UTV's evening magazine programme, Good Evening Ulster.
In his autobiography, Fullerton revealed he almost accepted a sports reporter position at Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
in 1978, but decided to remain in Northern Ireland for the sake of his family. He also disclosed the controversy caused by rumours of an affair with Good Evening Ulster presenting colleague Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford is a Northern Irish TV and radio presenter, and formerly a singer.-Biography:...
, which were untrue. It was during his time on Good Evening Ulster when, in 1980, Fullerton interviewed wrestler Giant Haystacks in the studio, who proceeded to slam him on the studio floor - a clip which has been repeated on various blooper
Blooper
A blooper, also known as an outtake or boner is a short sequence of a film or video production, usually a deleted scene, containing a mistake made by a member of the cast or crew. It also refers to an error made during a live radio or TV broadcast or news report, usually in terms of misspoken words...
TV shows since.
BBC
Fullerton moved from Ulster Television to BBC Northern Ireland in 1992.In 2004, the BBC announced that Fullerton would no longer introduce the sport during BBC Newsline, but his reporting and commentating duties would still continue. The same year saw Fullerton undergo triple heart by-pass surgery following a period of ill health. He returned to commentary duties in January 2005.
In 2007, Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
obtained live broadcast rights to Northern Ireland's international matches for £10million. Rumours circulated at the time that Fullerton had been approached by the network to commentate on their coverage of Northern Ireland games. These rumours were unfounded when Fullerton disclosed while he had talks with Sky, he had signed a 'rolling contract' to remain with BBC Northern Ireland.
DVDs
In 2008, Fullerton interviewed Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
international David Healy
David Healy (footballer)
David Jonathan Healy, MBE is a Northern Ireland international footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish Premier League champions Rangers...
on the footballer's DVD, David Healy, The Talisman.
Writing
Fullerton published his autobiography, Jackie: "I Did It My Way", in 2006. He is married with three sons: Darren, Nicky and Gareth, who are all sports journalists themselves.Honours
Fullerton was awarded the MBEOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 2010 for his services to sports journalism and his wide-ranging service to the community.