Striker Hugh Curran began his career on the books of Manchester United before playing in Scotland for Third Lanark and Morton. After a short spell of playing Southern League football with Corby Town in season 1963/64, he was transferred to Millwall for £3,000 in March 1964 where he made 57 Football League appearances, scoring 26 goals. He subsequently played for Norwich City (112 appearances, 46 goals), Wolverhampton Wanderers (82 appearances, 40 goals) Oxford United (70 appearances, 28 goals), Bolton Wanderers (47 appearances, 13 goals) before then returning to the Manor Ground for a second time (35 appearances, 11 goals) to see out his Football League career. Whilst at Wolverhampton Wanderers he won five Scottish International caps scoring one goal.

Season 1979/80 had begun for Banbury United with a home game against Wellingborough Town on Saturday 25th August, United winning 3-1. Two days later manager Brian Stone added to his squad by signing Hugh Curran who had left Oxford United at the end of the previous season but was also sought after by Witney Town. However, much to the delight of the Puritan faithful, he chose to join United in preference to their fierce local Oxfordshire rivals. Hugh would make his debut for Banbury on Tuesday 28th August away to Corby Town, coming on as a substitute and scoring United’s second goal in a 2-0 win.

An article from the local press about Hugh joining Banbury is attached.

Banbury’s fine start to the season would continue and after eight league games they were unbeaten, winning six of them and topping the table. However, at this point manager Brian Stone on Wednesday 17th October handed in his resignation commenting “I am packing it in. I just don’t enjoy it any longer. Banbury United are top of the league and I feel it is the right time to go.”

The club immediately appointed Hugh Curran as manager, initially in a caretaker role.

Attached is a photo of outgoing manager Brian Stone (on right) wishing Hugh Curran the best of luck prior to United’s game against Cambridge City on Saturday 29th October 1979. Hugh was confirmed as permanent manager in early December.

At the end of season 1979/80 United finished in 13th place out of 22 teams in the Southern League Midland Division and at this point Hugh decided it was best to resign the manager's position as he was finding the pressure of running a public house in Marston combined with being manager of Banbury United Football Club as being too much. Hugh made 26 appearances for the Puritans and scored five goals

Hugh subsequently returned to his native Carstairs and ran his own hotel and pub and later spent periods running shops and a hotel with his brother in Lanarkshire. After moving back to Oxfordshire, he ran pubs in Horton-cum-Studley and Islip and after that, bored with retirement, worked as a supervisor at the park and ride service in Thornhill, Oxford.

The final photo below shows (left to right): Hugh Curran with other former Oxford United players Roy Burton and Dave Roberts at the funeral of Oxford United legend John Shuker in January 2020.

Everyone at Banbury United send their sincere condolences to Hugh's family and friends.