Three generations of Curran’s were at the St. Peter’s High School soccer field this Sunday, August 11, to witness the tribute, dedication and unveiling of the Pat Curran High School Soccer Field.
Curran, who passed away in 2000, left behind the legacy of soccer to several generations of St. Peter’s students. Two of Curran’s long-time friends, Tim Failor and Ed Wooley, attended the festivities. “I remember some bruising St. Patrick’s Day evenings celebrating Pat’s birthday,” laughed Failor. Then Failor more seriously recalled the memory of being the Eucharistic minister at Curran’s funeral, “The Curran’s were part of my family.”
Ed Wooley, who’s been the games manager at St. Peter’s since 1986, spent a great deal of time with Curran in those early years. “I was helping with basketball and pushed to have the players play soccer because it helped with their footwork” said Wooley, “That’s when I got to know Pat.”
Tom and Chris Mills attended the ceremony along with their sons, Derek and Zach, as well as many other former St. Peter’s soccer players who came for the alumni game to follow the dedication.
“Pat taught a lot of kids a lot of things…more than just soccer,” said Mills. “He’s an icon in this community and to these kids playing soccer. I’m glad his name will go on in the naming of this field.”
Mills’ wife, Chris, concurred, “He was very encouraging; very positive.”
The dedication, attended by an audience of approximately 100 people, and the school soccer teams, was presided over by Rand Smith, Chairman of Spartan Fields. “We want to recognize Patrick for bringing the game of soccer to so many kids,” said Smith. “He left his roots behind in Ireland to pursue the American dream and he brought the dream of soccer to us.”
Smith spoke from a podium in the middle of the soccer field followed by a poignant speech from Curran’s eldest son, Thomas. The new field sign was then unveiled by Curran’s youngest grandchildren, Sean and Colin Putt, and ended with a prayer by St. Peter’s High School/Junior High Principal Tressa Reith.
Curran, born in 1942 on St. Patrick’s Day in Belfast, Ireland, left his homeland and family in 1979 to come to America. Nine months later, he brought his wife and then three children to the United States, and in 1987, he started a soccer program at St. Peter’s schools in Mansfield. At that time, there was no field to play on (much less practice on), no uniforms, few players, and no money. That didn’t stop him from trying and eventually he turned a small group of soccer players into a major soccer program.
Curran was often called “Popcorn” on the soccer fields because of his Irish accent when he said his name. “Pat Curran sounded like ‘popcorn’ and it stuck,” said daughter Angie Curran Wolboldt.
Curran’s three Ireland-born children, Angie, Thomas, and Trisha were present along with their American-born youngest brother, Patrick.
Also remembered was Curran’s wife Mary, who passed away this past November.
“Pat taught a lot of kids a lot of things…more than just soccer,” said Tom Mills. “He’s an icon in this community and to these kids playing soccer. I’m glad his name will go on in the naming of this field.”
