| Robert Curragh |
 Robert Curragh was born on Friday, 4th February, 1876, in Auchinleck, East Ayrshire. The forward signed for Thistle on Friday, 9th September, 1898, having most recently been with Lugar Boswell. Aged 24, he made his only appearance on Saturday, 12th May, 1900, in a 1-1 friendly draw at home to St Bernard's. There were no goals for Robert in his one-off appearance for Thistle. His club-list included Lugar Boswell and Partick Thistle. Robert died on Monday, 9th January, 1950, in Dalmellington, East Ayrshire, aged 83.
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 Son of William Curragh (Iron miner) and Bertha Curragh (née Graham). Robert was part of a large family, with 3 brothers and 6 sisters at the 1881 census! Curragh was on the books for a few seasons from 1898-99 onwards, but never made the breakthrough to the first team. In his Weekly News interview of 1903, Lugar-born Robert Campbell noted that “In five-a-side tournaments I picked up a few medals at Muirkirk, Lugar, New Cumnock and Skares, along with Stark, Brodie and the two Curraghs, all Lugar bred and born.” We know from contemporary reports that the “two Curraghs” in question were Robert and his brother, William. Robert wasn't quite born at Lugar though. His birthplace was stated as Rosebank, which was a row of cottages closer to Auchinleck than Lugar. His brothers included John (b.1865), Arthur (b.1869) & William (b.1878). We have no account of William as a first-team Jag, perhaps he was in the reserves? Robert died at his Dalmellington home in 1950, having suffered a cardiac arrest. He was described as a retired coal miner and the widower of Mary Chalmers. His son, William, signed the register entry. |
| (WS/JK) |