In 1877 William Fulton, born in 1857, was at twenty a founder member of Abercorn, Paisley's chronologically marginally second, senior club. And he would play for it at half-back for the best part of a decade, by 1880, the first year of entry into the Scottish Cup, becoming its captain. Indeed, there was a second Fulton in that 1880 team, "J", quite possibly his elder brother, James. Moreover, there might have been involvement of a third, eldest brother, Robert, with in 1881 an "ex. President" recorded with that name.

The three lads were the first three children, three boys and then three girls, of locally-born parents, their father a Shawl Weaver. But Fulton Snr. died in the mid-1860s, his widow left to bring up the six weans. It could not have been easy, with the siblings having little choice but to begin work as soon as education allowed.