Chris Curran (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Curran is an English former professional footballer.
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. 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.
Having struggled with knee
and hamstring
problems, Curran was loaned to Tiverton Town
in December 2002. He played eight times for Tiverton, before being recalled by Exeter as they unsuccessfully struggled to avoid relegation from the Football League. He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon
just before the end of the 2002-03 season 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
.
In February 2004 he was reported to be looking to join a non-league club, and agreed terms with Weymouth
, managed by Steve Claridge
, the following month. However, he failed to appear for Weymouth and returned to the Midlands.
He joined Willenhall Town
in August 2004. In January 2005 he joined Newport County
on trial, which resulted in a permanent move. He was released by Newport in September 2005 and returned to Willenhall Town.
Curran was born in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and began his career as a trainee with Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, 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
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
for £40,000, but failed to settle at Home Park, moving to Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
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
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. 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. 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
Noel Blake
Noel Blake is a retired footballer and current head coach of the England national under-19 football team...
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.
Having struggled with knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
and hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
problems, Curran was loaned to Tiverton Town
Tiverton Town F.C.
Tiverton Town Football Club are an English football club based in Tiverton. The club are currently members of the Southern Football League South & West Division and play at Ladysmead.-History:...
in December 2002. He played eight times for Tiverton, before being recalled by Exeter as they unsuccessfully struggled to avoid relegation from the Football League. He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
just before the end of the 2002-03 season 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
University of Wolverhampton
The University of Wolverhampton is a British university located on four campuses across the West Midlands and Shropshire. The city campus is located in Wolverhampton city centre with a second campus at Compton Park, Wolverhampton; a third in Walsall and a fourth in Telford...
.
In February 2004 he was reported to be looking to join a non-league club, and agreed terms with Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
, managed by Steve Claridge
Steve Claridge
Stephen Edward Claridge is an English football player, pundit and coach. He is currently a pundit for BBC Sport football shows including Football Focus and the The Football League Show, whilst also playing as a striker for semi-professional team Gosport Borough.Claridge's career is known for its...
, the following month. However, he failed to appear for Weymouth and returned to the Midlands.
He joined Willenhall Town
Willenhall Town F.C.
Willenhall Town F.C. are a football club based in Willenhall, Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands, England, currently playing in the Midland Alliance.-History:...
in August 2004. In January 2005 he joined Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
on trial, which resulted in a permanent move. He was released by Newport in September 2005 and returned to Willenhall Town.