Hugh Curran
Encyclopedia
Hugh Patrick Curran is a former Scottish
international footballer, who spent the majority of his career in the English Football League
.
when his family moved to Dublin in 1954. After 6 years playing at all grades he moved to Shamrock Rovers to gain experience. After a period as an apprentice at Manchester United
he was released and returned to his native Scotland with Third Lanark as a semi-pro where he struggled to see much first team action, instead joining Corby Town
.
He was spotted by Millwall
, signing as a professional in March 1964. He finished as their leading goalscorer (with 19) in his first season as they won promotion from the fourth tier. This proved to be his only full season at The Den
though, as he moved to Norwich City
in January 1966. Here, he spent three years in the second flight, scored 53 goals in total and was voted the club's player of the year
in 1968.
He moved into the First Division
in January 1969 when he signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers
for £60,000. He finished his first full season at Molineux
as their leading goalscorer with 23 goals, and added a further 20 in the following campaign.
During his time with the club, he won a call-up to the Scottish national team
, making his debut on 5 November 1969 in a 0–2 World Cup qualifying loss in Austria
. He won five caps in total over an 18-month period, scoring once, against England
in a 1–3 defeat at Wembley in May 1971.
However, the 1971/72 season
saw him pushed to the sidelines at Wolves
due to the emergence of John Richards
, limiting Curran to just eight appearances. His final game for the club was in the second leg of the 1972 UEFA Cup Final where they lost out on the trophy to their countrymen Spurs
. In total, he made 98 appearances for them, scoring 47 times.
Out of contention at Wolves
, he joined second flight Oxford United
in September 1972 for £50,000. He was their leading scorer in both the 1972/73
and 1973/74
campaigns (with 17 and 14 goals). After just one full season though, he left for Bolton Wanderers
in a £40,000 deal in September 1974.
Following over 50 appearances for Bolton spread over three seasons, he returned to Oxford United
where he remained until retiring due to injury in 1979.
Following his retirement, he ran his own hairdressing business in his native Carstairs
and later spent periods running shops, and a hotel (in Lanarkshire
). After moving to Oxfordshire
, he ran pubs (in Horton-cum-Studley
and Islip
) and currently works at a park and ride service in Thornhill, Oxfordshire
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
international footballer, who spent the majority of his career in the English Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
Career
Curran began his career at Home FarmHome Farm F.C.
Home Farm Football Club is an Irish football club based in Whitehall, Dublin. Originally founded in 1928, the club joined the League of Ireland in 1972 after merging with Drumcondra. Following this merger they were briefly known as Home Farm Drumcondra...
when his family moved to Dublin in 1954. After 6 years playing at all grades he moved to Shamrock Rovers to gain experience. After a period as an apprentice at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
he was released and returned to his native Scotland with Third Lanark as a semi-pro where he struggled to see much first team action, instead joining Corby Town
Corby Town F.C.
Corby Town F.C. is an English football club based in Corby, Northamptonshire. They will be members of the Conference North for the 2011–12 season. The Steelmen play their home games at the newly built Steel Park, adjacent to their previous ground, Rockingham Triangle Sports Stadium, which is...
.
He was spotted by Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, signing as a professional in March 1964. He finished as their leading goalscorer (with 19) in his first season as they won promotion from the fourth tier. This proved to be his only full season at The Den
The Den (stadium)
The Den was the fifth football stadium occupied by Millwall F.C. in Cold Blow Lane, New Cross, London since their formation in Millwall on the Isle of Dogs in 1885 before moving to The New Den, in May 1993. The ground opened in 1910 and was the home of Millwall for 83 years. It boasted a record...
though, as he moved to Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in January 1966. Here, he spent three years in the second flight, scored 53 goals in total and was voted the club's player of the year
Norwich City player of the year
The Norwich City player of the year award is voted for annually by Norwich City's supporters, in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season...
in 1968.
He moved into the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in January 1969 when he signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
for £60,000. He finished his first full season at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
as their leading goalscorer with 23 goals, and added a further 20 in the following campaign.
During his time with the club, he won a call-up to the Scottish national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, making his debut on 5 November 1969 in a 0–2 World Cup qualifying loss in Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
. He won five caps in total over an 18-month period, scoring once, against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in a 1–3 defeat at Wembley in May 1971.
However, the 1971/72 season
1971-72 in English football
The 1971–72 season was the 92nd season of competitive football in England.-FA Cup:Leeds United overcame holders Arsenal to win the 1972 FA Cup Final...
saw him pushed to the sidelines at Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
due to the emergence of John Richards
John Richards (footballer)
John Peter Richards is a former English international footballer, most associated with Wolverhampton Wanderers.-Career:...
, limiting Curran to just eight appearances. His final game for the club was in the second leg of the 1972 UEFA Cup Final where they lost out on the trophy to their countrymen Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. In total, he made 98 appearances for them, scoring 47 times.
Out of contention at Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, he joined second flight Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
in September 1972 for £50,000. He was their leading scorer in both the 1972/73
1972-73 in English football
The 1972–73 season was the 93rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League announced that a three-up, three-down system would operate between the top two divisions from the following season, rather than the traditional two-up, two-down system...
and 1973/74
1973-74 in English football
The 1973–74 season was the 94th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Don Revie marked his last season as Leeds United's manager by guiding them to league championship glory, before taking over from Sir Alf Ramsey as the England national football team manager, with England...
campaigns (with 17 and 14 goals). After just one full season though, he left for Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in a £40,000 deal in September 1974.
Following over 50 appearances for Bolton spread over three seasons, he returned to Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
where he remained until retiring due to injury in 1979.
Following his retirement, he ran his own hairdressing business in his native Carstairs
Carstairs
The name Carstairs refers to a pair of villages located some 4–5 miles east of the town of Lanark in the administrative region of South Lanarkshire in southern Scotland....
and later spent periods running shops, and a hotel (in Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
). After moving to Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, he ran pubs (in Horton-cum-Studley
Horton-cum-Studley
Horton-cum-Studley is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about northeast of the centre of Oxford.-Civil parish:The hamlet of Studley was originally in two parts: one in Oxfordshire and the other in the Hundred of Ashendon in Buckinghamshire. Horton was always part of Oxfordshire...
and Islip
Islip, Oxfordshire
Islip is a village and civil parish on the River Ray, just above its confluence with the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, England. It is about east of Kidlington and about north of Oxford. This village in Oxfordshire is not related to Islip, New York...
) and currently works at a park and ride service in Thornhill, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
.