Keith Football Club legend John Curran III appointed as Kynoch Park club's honorary president
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A MAROONS secret mission to Aberdeen led to the appointment of club legend John Curran III as Keith Football Club’s honorary president in the year of his 70th birthday.
Like his father, Curran wore the Keith colours with great distinction and was part of a golden era at Kynoch Park during his nine years at the club.
He joined Keith in 1973 from Rothes and ended up winning three consecutive Highland League Cups, three straight Highland League titles and a trio of Aberdeenshire Cup winners’ medals in 296 matches, during which he scored 87 goals.
Now a retired solicitor, he has re-established his connection with the Maroons by receiving the club honour, which came about as a result of what vice-chairman Charlie Simpson described as some “cloak-and-dagger” movements by himself and club chairman Andy Troup in Aberdeen, where Curran is based.
“The pretext was to meet up and have lunch with John Curran III to celebrate his landmark 70th birthday which occurred in February,” Simpson said.
“The lunch apart, the main purpose of the journey was to bestow the honour of becoming honorary president of Keith Football Club.
“The previous honorary president, Alex Rutherford junior, had sadly passed away last July. When the subject arose at a board meeting there was no debate, it was a unanimous decision to offer the position to the former bemedalled Maroons’ winger, and a suitably inscribed quaich was obtained to mark the occasion.”
His father, John Curran II, was a title winner at Keith before his son, as Simpson traced from the club’s history archives.
“The name Curran is synonymous with Keith FC, firmly steeped in the club’s long history,” he said.
“John Curran II was a much-travelled and vastly experienced goalkeeper, including being between the sticks at Aberdeen before joining the Maroons in 1958, ending up winning five honours, including being part of the first ever championship side in 1961-62, and their first two Qualifying Cups.”
As for his son, the now honorary president at Kynoch Park, he was described as a “play anywhere” stalwart who wore nine different numbered shirts during his nine years at the club.
Curran himself said: “I was just about lost for words and blown away when Andy and Charlie asked me to accept this appointment.
“The club, and the people involved, have held a special place in my heart since even before I had the privilege of demonstrating my unselfish standing on the left wing of ‘the field of dreams’ during the 1970s and ‘80s.
“Great times that I’ll never forget and I’ll do all that I can to justify the great honour that the club has seen fit to confer upon me.”
Troup added: “John is steeped in the history of the club and the board could not think of a better person to take this distinguished role. We look forward to seeing (him) at Kynoch Park more in the future.”
