Craig Curran

The record was originally set on 25 October 1924.

He finished his first ever season with four goals in four appearances, with only two of them being starts.

Craig Carl Curran (born 23 August 1989) is an English former professional footballer.

Curran plays as a striker, who can operate in midfield or attack.

He is a product of the Youth system at Tranmere Rovers, signing his first professional contract in April 2006, agreeing a deal until 2007.

During the 2006–07 season, he was top scorer for the reserve side.

He began his career with Tranmere Rovers, making his debut in 2007 and going on to play over 100 games for the club before joining Carlisle United in 2010 and then Rochdale two years later.

Initially not considered to be ready for first team football by manager Ronnie Moore, Curran finally made his first appearance for Tranmere on Saturday 13 January 2007, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute in the 3–2 loss to Bristol City.

He scored with his first ever senior touch at Prenton Park against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday 9 April 2007.

The goal was also Curran's first ever senior goal.

On 5 May 2007, Curran scored three times in the first 36 minutes to record his first hat-trick for the club as Tranmere won 3–1 at home against Brentford.

The feat also broke a record set by Tranmere legend Dixie Dean as the youngest ever player to score a hat-trick in a Rovers' shirt.

Just eight days before the start of the 2007–08 season, Curran signed a contract with Tranmere, keeping him at the club until 2010.

Curran then scored two goals in two games against Carlisle United on 8 September 2007 and Luton Town on 14 September 2007.

During the early part of the 2007–08 season he was used sparingly by manager Ronnie Moore, being limited to a handful of starts, although he made regular appearances from the bench.

On 10 November 2007, he was sent off for the first time in his senior career, during an FA Cup First Round match away at Chesterfield, picking up two bookings after coming on as a late substitute, one for delaying the restart of play (preventing a free kick being taken) and the second for a foul on a Chesterfield player.

Curran ended his 2007–08 season, with forty appearances, scoring two times in all competitions.

Ahead of the 2008–09 season, Curran stated he would improve his fitness to get first team football, as well as scoring goals.

The work soon paid off when Curran scored two goals in his first four league game, against Hartlepool United on 16 August 2008 and Northampton Town on 30 August 2008.

However, Curran suffered a groin injury, stomach muscle injury and back strain that kept him out for months.

Curran ended his 2008–09 season, making sixteen appearances and scoring three times.

After making his return from injury in a reserve match against Bury on 14 March 2009, Curran made his first team return three days later, coming on as a substitute for Charlie Barnett in the 68th minute, in a 1–0 loss against Cheltenham Town.

Having returned to the side Curran was hopeful that he could help the club achieve a play-off place.

In the last game of the season, he scored his third goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Scunthorpe United, however the result saw the club miss out on the play-offs.

The 2009–10 season saw Curran regain his first team place after returning to fitness.

He scored his first goal of the season, in the first round of the League Cup, in a 4–0 win over Grimsby Town on 11 August 2009.

He then scored two goals in two games, against Huddersfield Town on 1 December 2009 and then four days on 5 December 2009, against Brentford.

Two weeks later on 19 December 2009, Curran scored his third goal of the season, in a 2–0 win over Bristol Rovers.

At the end of the 2009–10 season, Curran was offered a new contract by the club.

Curran signed for Carlisle United upon conclusion of the 2009–10 season on a free transfer, his contract at Tranmere having elapsed and not been renewed.

Upon joining the club, Manager Greg Abbott said he believed that Curran could be the signing of the year.

Curran made his Carlisle debut, in the opening game of the season, where he helped the club win a penalty, which Ian Harte successfully converted, in a 2–0 win over Brentford.

Curran then went on a run of fifteen games without scoring which ended when he scored in a 3–1 win over Norwich City on 2 April 2010.

Two weeks later on 17 April 2010, Curran scored his fifth goal of the season, in a 3–1 win over Exeter City.

During the season Curran made fifty appearances, scoring six times in all competitions.

It took until 11 September 2010, for him to score his first Carlisle goal, in a 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

He joined Irish club Limerick in 2013, returning to England the following year to play non-League football with Nuneaton Town.

He then moved to Scotland in 2015, spending three years with Ross County followed by shorter spells with Dundee United and Dundee.

He joined Welsh side Connah's Quay Nomads in 2020 and would win two Cymru Premier titles as well as a Welsh League Cup, before joining Airbus UK Broughton and going on loan to Marine before retiring in 2024 after a brief stint with Vauxhall Motors.

Curran was born and raised in Liverpool, England, and was educated at the Liverpool Blue Coat School.