I feel blessed: Curran

Chris Curran says he feels “blessed” to have enjoyed such a rewarding career.

The 33-year-old, who officially hung up his boots in the aftermath of captaining Cliftonville to an historic Clearer Water Irish Cup Final victory over Linfield earlier this month, has expressed his gratitude to the many team-mates he shared changing rooms with both before and during his time at the Reds.

Chris celebrated Premiership title success in his first season with Cliftonville...

... and lifted the Irish Cup on his last appearance

NIFL Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor inducted Chris to the Club's Hall of Fame

The skipper takes receipt of the final matchworn shirt he ever sported at Solitude

Inducted to the John McCredy McAlery Hall of Fame at last week’s Cliftonville FC Awards, Curran joined Cliftonville from Ballinamallard United in the summer of 2013 and played an integral role in Tommy Breslin’s side retaining the Premiership title a year later.

With four League Cup crowns, two County Antrim Shields and that long-awaited Irish Cup triumph also under his belt, the Cavan man – who also starred in the Mallards’ Championship-winning heroics of 2012 – bows out with a clean sweep of senior domestic honours to his name following a decade that saw him score 38 goals and provide 61 assists in 440 appearances for Ireland’s Oldest Football Club.

Speaking to the Club’s YouTube channel, Chris – who begins a new life with wife-to-be Caragh this summer – reflects on his early days in the game, the impression that Cliftonville made on him as an opposition player and why celebrations in Windsor Park’s North Stand will always hold a special place in his heart.