Derek Currie

Derek Currie
Personal information
Date of birth (1949-02-08) 8 February 1949 (age 77)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Position Winger
Youth career
–1966 Dumbarton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1967 Third Lanark
1967–1970 Motherwell
1970–1972 Rangers (HKG)
1972–1980 Seiko
1976 → San Antonio Thunder (loan)
1980 Bulova
1980–1982 Eastern
International career
1979 Hong Kong 6 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Derek Currie is a former professional footballer who was one of the first of three professionals to play in Asia when Hong Kong introduced professional football in 1970. Born in Scotland, he played for the Hong Kong national football team.

Club career

Currie along with fellow Scotsmen, Walter Gerrard and Jackie Trainer first arrived in Hong Kong in September 1970 where they joined Hong Kong Rangers.

Currie was the first overseas professional to score in an international match for the Hong Kong national team. During a three-month spell in San Antonio for the San Antonio Thunder in the NASL, Currie scored the official first goal in the Bicentennial League against St. Louis All-Stars, He scored both goals in their 2–1 win at the Alamo Stadium. Currie retired in 1982, playing his final farewell game against German side, VfB Stuttgart in Hong Kong.

International career

In 1978, he became the first professional to play for the Hong Kong national football team and was followed by fellow professional, David Anderson and both competed for Hong Kong in the Asian Cup qualifying in Bangkok in 1979.

By scoring against Sri Lanka, Currie was the first overseas professional to score in an international match for Hong Kong.

References