Kate rewarded for wonderful achievements in Welsh Hockey

Kate Hulse’s superb record in ladies hockey at the highest Welsh levels was deservedly recognised at the Sport Pembrokeshire awards when she was the recipient of the ‘Special Achievement’ award.
Born as Kate Thomas and brought up in Fishguard, she represented Wales in hockey at every level from under 16 upwards and she played for the senior side an amazing 76 times. The highlight was undoubtedly captaining Wales in the 1998 Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur where she not only led by example but was chosen to represent the Welsh squad in meeting the Queen for tea!
Kate was unable to attend the awards ceremony herself because she lives in Newcastle with husband Mark, who is the fitness coach with Newcastle United, and son Rhys, now two and a half and an already an avid watcher of football at St James’ Park and rugby with Newcastle Falcons.

Family involvement

Accepting the award on her behalf was fittingly her mother, Margaret Thomas, who was a major influence on her hockey career and played alongside Kate for Fishguard and Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club. Also involved in that team were Kate’s sister Nicola and aunt, Angie Miles, who is still involved in the running of the club now.
Kate set out as a forward in schools hockey at Ysgol Bro Gwaun under the watchful eyes of teachers Gill Jones and Lynda Seaton, before switching to the midfield role which served her well throughout a wonderful career where she travelled all over the Wales with Wales and captained her country in the 2003 European Championships in Barcelona before stepping down from the international scene and finished by playing for Sutton Coldfield in the English Premier League.

Welsh caps in school

From school Kate was capped at under 16 and under 18 levels, with one of many highlights being selection against England at Wembley Stadium. She captained Wales at under 18 and was first chosen at under 21 level when she was just 16!
Her first full cap followed in 1994 against China as the start of a decade of hockey where Kate showed total commitment and flew the Pembrokeshire Flag with distinction. There were cracking tours to places like Holland, who were preparing for the Olympics, and against teams like the USA and Australia.

Mark’s moves

Kate studied Sports Science at college and met her future husband Mark, taking her Master’s Degree at Loughborough and captaining the college hockey team which had nine English internationals, one Irish international - and Kate! Mark originally did research work for the Football Association and helped Peter Taylor bring along talented young players like Wayne Rooney. He moved with Taylor to Crystal Palace and gained further experience at Bolton Wanderers with Sammy Lee and Gary Megson before Kevin Keegan invited him to join Newcastle United, where he still works with Joe Kinnear.

Kate’s pals

Kate spent some time as a lecturer at the University of Worcester  and was delighted to find another Pembrokeshire girl in Vanessa Incledon working there because Vanessa had been her teacher at one time and they became great friends, as did Irish international Laura Lee, who was later to become her bridesmaid. Looking after Rhys now keeps Kate very busy but eventually she might just return to some coaching when time allows. In the meanwhile she has wonderful memories of great playing days – and a superb engraved glass trophy from the Sport Pembrokeshire awards to mark her immense contribution to Welsh Hockey!