Darren Currie

Darren Paul Currie (born 29 November 1974) is an English former footballer who made over 600 appearances in The Football League. He is assistant head coach of Southend United.

Currie, who is the nephew of former Sheffield United, Leeds United and England footballer Tony Currie, began his career as a trainee at West Ham United in 1993 but did not play for the first team. He had a loan spell at Leyton Orient before joining Shrewsbury Town in February 1996 for a transfer fee of £70,000, for whom he made over 70 league and cup appearances in two seasons.

He was released by Shrewsbury in March 1998 and joined Plymouth Argyle until the end of the 1997–98 season. He then joined Barnet in summer 1998 and made over 140 league and cup appearances in three seasons. He was selected in the PFA Team of the Season for Division Three for two consecutive seasons but after Barnet were relegated to the Nationwide Conference at the end of the 2000–01 season, he left Barnet and joined Wycombe Wanderers for a transfer fee of £200,000. He left Wycombe by mutual consent at the end of the 2003–04 season after the club was relegated, having made over 140 appearances for the club.

Currie impressed Brighton manager Mark McGhee during pre-season trials in 2004 and was given a one-year contract, with McGee saying, "Darren has skills comparable with any player at this level." A few months later in December 2004, Currie joined Ipswich Town for a transfer fee of £250,000, which Brighton's financial position meant they could not turn down.

Currie made his debut for Ipswich in December 2004, scoring a goal and making another, as Ipswich beat Queens Park Rangers 4–2 away from home. He made 26 appearances for Ipswich in the 2004–05 season, as Ipswich reached the Football League Championship play-offs in May 2005.

Currie fell out of favour in the 2006–07 season, starting only six games before joining Coventry City on loan in November 2006 when Ipswich manager Jim Magilton could not guarantee him a place in the first-team. Currie had a two-week trial with the Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy early in 2007, for whom he made three substitute appearance, but was not offered a contract and returned to Ipswich.

He joined Derby County in March 2007 on a loan until the end of the season, which was extended until the end of May 2007 so he would be eligible for the 2006–07 season Football League Championship play-offs. He came on as a substitute in the second leg of the semi-final against Southampton as his side won on penalties, but he did not feature in the final. Currie scored once during his spell at Derby, his goal coming on a 2–0 win over Leeds United on 6 May 2007.

Currie joined Luton Town on a free transfer from Ipswich in July 2007, signing a two-year contract, and scored on his debut against Hartlepool United in August 2007. He made 38 league and cup appearances in the 2007–08 season as Luton went into administration, suffered a ten-point penalty and were relegated.