Chris Curran (footballer, born September 1971)

Christopher Curran (born 17 September 1971) is an English former professional footballer.

Chris Curran
Personal information
Full name Christopher Curran[1]
Date of birth (1971-09-17) 17 September 1971
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1988–1990 Torquay United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1995 Torquay United 152 (4)
1995–1997 Plymouth Argyle 30 (0)
1997–2003 Exeter City 157 (6)
2002–2003 → Tiverton Town (loan)[2] 8 (1)
2004 Weymouth 0 (0)
2004–2005 Willenhall Town
2005 Newport County[3][4] 9 (0)
2005–2006 Willenhall Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Curran was born in Birmingham and began his career as a trainee with Torquay United, making his debut during the 1989–90 season whilst still a trainee. He turned professional on 13 July 1990 and went on to make 152 appearances for the Gulls, scoring 4 goals. On 22 December 1995 he was, surprisingly, sold to local rivals Plymouth Argyle for £40,000, but failed to settle at Home Park, moving to Exeter City on 31 July 1997 for £20,000.

This move made him one of only a handful of players to have played for all three of the Football League sides in Devon. He made an impressive start to his career at Exeter, but in September 1997 picked up a serious knee ligament injury which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.[5] He returned to the side and a regular place in the team, so much so that he was one of only a handful of players not released or transfer listed by manager Noel Blake in May 2000.

He was appointed as club captain and in January 2001 was sent off in the game against Torquay United after only six minutes of the game.[6]

Having struggled with knee and hamstring problems, Curran was loaned to Tiverton Town in December 2002.[7] He played eight times for Tiverton,[2] before being recalled by Exeter as they unsuccessfully struggled to avoid relegation from the Football League.[8] He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon just before the end of the 2002–03 season[9] and was released by Exeter.

He relocated back to the Midlands to recuperate and enrolled on a Physical Education course at the University of Wolverhampton.[10]

In February 2004 he was reported to be looking to join a non-league club,[10] and agreed terms with Weymouth, managed by Steve Claridge, the following month.[11] However, he failed to appear for Weymouth and returned to the Midlands.[12]

He joined Willenhall Town in August 2004.[13] In January 2005 he joined Newport County on trial,[14] which resulted in a permanent move. He was released by Newport in September 2005 and returned to Willenhall Town.[15]

References
  1. Barry J. Hugman (1998). The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records 1946–1998. Queen Anne Press. ISBN 1-85291-585-4.
  2. "Player Details: Season 2002–2003". SoccerFacts UK. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  3. "Player Details: Season 2004–2005". SoccerFacts UK. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  4. "Player Details: Season 2005–2006". SoccerFacts UK. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  5. "Player Profile – Chris Curran". NonLeagueDaily. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  6. Brown, Geoff (21 January 2001). "Gardner digs in to confirm Bolton's second thoughts". The Independent. London. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  7. "Tivvy sign Exeter skipper". NonLeagueDaily. 30 December 2002. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  8. "Exeter debt to Tivvy". NonLeagueDaily. 24 March 2003. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  9. "Injury woe for Curran". BBC Sport. 8 April 2003. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  10. "Curran looks for new club". NonLeagueDaily. 17 February 2004. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  11. "Angry Claridge holds 90-minute dressing room post mortem". NonLeagueDaily. 30 March 2004. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  12. "Power off". NonLeagueDaily. 1 April 2004. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  13. "Big signing for Willenhall". NonLeagueDaily. 11 August 2004. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  14. "Veteran defender given County chance". NonLeagueDaily. 31 January 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  15. "Curran answers Willenhall's SOS". NonLeagueDaily. 1 October 2005. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
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