Col Curran

Col Curran was the product of a family with long soccer playing traditions. Like fellow local Ray Baartz, his first senior club was Adamstown in 1963. At season’s end he paid his own way to Manchester United for six months of the 1964/65 season. Returning to Adamstown in 1966, he made the first of 35 appearances for Australia in 1970 and played his last game for the Socceroos in 1979. Outstanding in the 1974 World Cup campaign and finals, Curran’s displays at left back drew coach Rasic’s comment that he was “best footballer in Australia” at that time. Always keen to get forward, quick to recover and ever vigorous, he was well liked by both players and fans. In club football he was tempted by Sydney clubs Western Suburbs and Marconi but on each occasion after short stays returned to Adamstown. He joined Western Suburbs in the first year of the national league in 1977, moving to Baartz’s Newcastle KB United in 1978. After five seasons with Newcastle, Curran retired in 1983 aged 36.