Career
He played for a number of intermediate clubs before signing for Belfast Celtic as a seventeen-year-old. At Celtic Park he developed into one of the finest players in the Irish League, usually starring at inside-left or on the left-wing. His finest performance in the hooped jersey was perhaps in the 1930 City Cup deciding play-official
Slotting in at centre-forward, Coulter scored a hat-trick to take the trophy back to Celtic Park.
More honours came his way in the shape of the further City Cups, the Belfast Charities Cup and finally in 1933, the Irish League Championship. He also featured in both of the Irish League’s representative fixtures, including in a 3–0 victory over their Scottish counterparts.
lieutenant was performances in matches such as these which drew the attentions of some of the leading clubs in England. His signing for Everton in the spring of 1934 did however surprise his Celtic teammates.
Having been sent–off in a match at Ballymena, Coulter was approached by an Everton official, and terms were agreed on a £2,750 fee.
When the Celtic players returned to the dressing room after the final whistle they were greeted by the news of his departure. Coulter made his League debut in a 1–1 draw against Portsmouth in April 1934, and although his spell at Goodison Park coincided with a lull in fortunes after the successes of the early–thirties, he was a popular addition to the Everton squad. Four months later he starred in one of Ireland’s best performances of the time, only to see his penalty - that would have put the Irish into a 2-1 lead - crash against the crossbar.
Cliff Bastin later seized upon an under-hit pass by Irish captain Bertie Fulton to give England a 2-1 victory.
A move to Grimsby Town in September 1937, then in the middle of the most successful period in their history, lasted a little under a season. The war brought a brief spell with Linfield, but having been out of the game for eighteen months he was without his former impact, and quit after three games.