Terry Curran
Encyclopedia
Edward Terence Curran is a former English professional footballer whose career lasted from 1975 to 1988. Curran was an attacking midfielder
, who could also play as a winger
, he could also play as an out and out Striker
. During his 13 year career Curran played for many clubs, although he is especially remembered by Sheffield Wednesday
supporters for his part in launching the clubs revival during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Terry Curran was born in Kinsley, near Hemsworth
, West Yorkshire
on 20 March 1955, he signed for Fourth Division Doncaster Rovers
in July 1973 from non league football. He made 68 appearances for Rovers scoring 11 goals in two seasons before being signed by Brian Clough
for Nottingham Forest
in August 1975 for £60,000. In two seasons he played 48 games scoring 12 goals for Forest, helping them gain promotion to Division One in the 1976-77 season. Curran lost favour after a disagreement with Forest Assistant Manager Peter Taylor
and was loaned out to Bury
during October 1977 and eventually switched to Derby County
in a £50,000 move the following month
Curran stayed less than a year at Derby, making 26 appearances in Division One scoring two goals before switching for £60,000 to another First Division club Southampton
in the summer of 1978. Once again Curran stayed less than a year at Southampton, making 26 appearances in the 1978-79 season and playing in the League Cup semi final victory over Leeds United. It was after that semi final in January 1979 that Curran was approached by Sheffield Wednesday manager Jack Charlton
with the audacious request that Curran should drop down two divisions and sign for Third Division Sheffield Wednesday. Curran agreed to Charlton’s approach and signed for Wednesday for £100,000 in March 1979.
Curran’s signing proved to an inspired acquisition for Wednesday, he was the final piece of Jack Charlton’s side which went on to gain promotion from Division Three in the 1979-80 season. He was an immensely popular and successful player during his time at Hillsborough
, scoring 24 goals in that promotion season. Such was his popularity that he had his own fan club and recorded a song called “Singing the Blues
”. Curran was involved in an incident the following season in a match at Oldham
on 6 September 1980 when he was sent off after a fracas with Simon Stainrod
causing Wednesday fans to riot, which led to the closure of Hillsborough terraces for the next four home games.
Curran stayed with Wednesday till the end of the 1981-82 season, he never repeated the scoring exploits of that first season and the team had a new goal ace in Gary Bannister
, this and a deteriorating relationship with Jack Charlton led him to leave and sign for Sheffield United
for £100,000. He made 33 appearances for United scoring 3 goals before moving to Everton
for three years during which time he made only 24 appearances. He then played briefly at Huddersfield Town
before going abroad to play for Greek club Panionios NFC. He returned in October 1986 to play short spells for Hull City
, Sunderland
, Grantham Town
, Grimsby Town
and Chesterfield
before retiring from playing in 1988.
Since retiring Curran has managed non league Goole and Mossley
, he left Mossley in December 1992 and invested in a hotel in West Yorkshire which he managed.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, who could also play as a winger
Winger (sport)
In certain sports, such as football, field hockey, ice hockey, handball, rugby union, lacrosse and rugby league, the term winger is the name of a position. It refers to positions on the extreme left and right sides of the pitch . In American football and Canadian football, the analogous position...
, he could also play as an out and out Striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. During his 13 year career Curran played for many clubs, although he is especially remembered by Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
supporters for his part in launching the clubs revival during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Terry Curran was born in Kinsley, near Hemsworth
Hemsworth
Hemsworth is a small town and civil parish on the edge of West Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the City of Wakefield, and has a population of 13,311....
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
on 20 March 1955, he signed for Fourth Division Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
in July 1973 from non league football. He made 68 appearances for Rovers scoring 11 goals in two seasons before being signed by Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in August 1975 for £60,000. In two seasons he played 48 games scoring 12 goals for Forest, helping them gain promotion to Division One in the 1976-77 season. Curran lost favour after a disagreement with Forest Assistant Manager Peter Taylor
Peter Thomas Taylor
Peter Thomas Taylor was an English football goalkeeper and more notably, a football manager. His name is closely associated with that of Brian Clough, with whom he served as assistant manager at various clubs in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.Playing twenty years of professional football, he started...
and was loaned out to Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
during October 1977 and eventually switched to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in a £50,000 move the following month
Curran stayed less than a year at Derby, making 26 appearances in Division One scoring two goals before switching for £60,000 to another First Division club Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the summer of 1978. Once again Curran stayed less than a year at Southampton, making 26 appearances in the 1978-79 season and playing in the League Cup semi final victory over Leeds United. It was after that semi final in January 1979 that Curran was approached by Sheffield Wednesday manager Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
with the audacious request that Curran should drop down two divisions and sign for Third Division Sheffield Wednesday. Curran agreed to Charlton’s approach and signed for Wednesday for £100,000 in March 1979.
Curran’s signing proved to an inspired acquisition for Wednesday, he was the final piece of Jack Charlton’s side which went on to gain promotion from Division Three in the 1979-80 season. He was an immensely popular and successful player during his time at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
, scoring 24 goals in that promotion season. Such was his popularity that he had his own fan club and recorded a song called “Singing the Blues
Singing the Blues
"Singing the Blues" is a popular song written by Melvin Endsley and published in 1956. The best-known recording was released in October 1956 by Guy Mitchell and spent nine weeks at #1 on the U.S...
”. Curran was involved in an incident the following season in a match at Oldham
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
on 6 September 1980 when he was sent off after a fracas with Simon Stainrod
Simon Stainrod
Simon Allan Stainrod is an English former footballer most famously with Queens Park Rangers in the 1980s.-Career:...
causing Wednesday fans to riot, which led to the closure of Hillsborough terraces for the next four home games.
Curran stayed with Wednesday till the end of the 1981-82 season, he never repeated the scoring exploits of that first season and the team had a new goal ace in Gary Bannister
Gary Bannister
Gary Bannister is a former English professional footballer who played for Coventry City , Sheffield Wednesday, Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich Albion, Oxford United, Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, Lincoln City and Darlington...
, this and a deteriorating relationship with Jack Charlton led him to leave and sign for Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
for £100,000. He made 33 appearances for United scoring 3 goals before moving to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
for three years during which time he made only 24 appearances. He then played briefly at Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
before going abroad to play for Greek club Panionios NFC. He returned in October 1986 to play short spells for Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, Grantham Town
Grantham Town F.C.
Grantham Town F.C. is a football club, based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. They are nicknamed The Gingerbreads and they play their home matches at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium . They were established in August 1874...
, Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
and Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
before retiring from playing in 1988.
Since retiring Curran has managed non league Goole and Mossley
Mossley A.F.C.
Mossley Association Football Club are an English football club from the town of Mossley, Greater Manchester, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They were founded in 1903 and are nicknamed the Lilywhites, owing to their colours...
, he left Mossley in December 1992 and invested in a hotel in West Yorkshire which he managed.