Curtis Main

English footballer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Curtis Main

Curtis Lee Main (born 20 June 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish Championship club Ayr United.

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Curtis Main
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Main training with Dundee in 2024
Personal information
Full name Curtis Lee Main[1]
Date of birth (1992-06-20) 20 June 1992 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth South Shields, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2][3]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Ayr United
Number 30
Youth career
?–2005 Sunderland
2005–2007 Darlington
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2011 Darlington 61 (5)
2011–2014 Middlesbrough 48 (6)
2013Shrewsbury Town (loan) 5 (0)
2014–2016 Doncaster Rovers 48 (9)
2016Oldham Athletic (loan) 18 (4)
2016–2018 Portsmouth 17 (2)
2018–2019 Motherwell 47 (8)
2019–2021 Aberdeen 32 (6)
2021 Shrewsbury Town 20 (2)
2021–2023 St Mirren 68 (11)
2023–2024 Bengaluru 8 (2)
2024–2025 Dundee 28 (2)
2025– Ayr United 12 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:00, 2 May 2025 (UTC)
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Main previously played in the Football League and the Football Conference for Darlington, and spent three seasons with Middlesbrough, from where he had a loan spell at Shrewsbury Town in 2013. He then joined Doncaster Rovers, and after a loan spell at Oldham Athletic in 2016, he signed for Portsmouth, whom he helped gain promotion to League One. He joined Motherwell in January 2018. He has since played for Scottish clubs Aberdeen, St Mirren and Dundee, as well as Indian Super League club Bengaluru and a second spell at Shrewsbury Town.

Career

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Perspective

Darlington

Main was born in South Shields, Tyne and Wear.[4] He attended St Mary's Church of England school in Tyne Dock, South Shields.[citation needed] He began his football career as a youngster at Sunderland before being released to League Two club Darlington, for whom he made his senior debut as a substitute in the last seven minutes of the game against Peterborough United on 3 May 2008. At 15 years 318 days, he became the youngest player to play for Darlington.[5][6] In February 2009, he scored his first goal, the 86th-minute winner in a match against Grimsby Town, only two minutes after entering the game as a substitute.[7] In May 2009, Main spent a week on trial with Premier League club Fulham, but the club preferred to monitor the player's progress rather than make an offer. Other clubs reported to be interested included Middlesbrough and Newcastle United.[4][8] In September 2009, Main scored an 81st-minute equaliser against Grimsby Town, in a match that ended 1–1 and saw Darlington manager Colin Todd leave his post shortly after the final whistle.[9]

In the early part of the 2010–11 season, Main had trials with Bury.[10] In April 2011, after his contract was paid up by Darlington and he left the club, he joined Hartlepool United on trial.[11]

Middlesbrough

After a trial with Middlesbrough, Main joined the Championship club on 12 May 2011, signing a one-year contract with an option for a second year. Manager Tony Mowbray described him as "a powerful lad", and said they intended to "mould him into a first-team player over the next couple of years".[12] He made his debut on 4 February 2012, replacing Marvin Emnes in the 50th minute of a 0–0 draw with Crystal Palace,[13] and his first start four days later, in a 2–1 defeat to Sunderland in the fourth round of the FA Cup.[14] He scored his first goal for the club on 21 February, coming off the bench to score in a 3–1 win away to Millwall.[15] On 14 April, he scored a late goal in a 1–0 win against Derby County.[16] On 9 February 2013, he scored his first goal of the 2012–13 season on his third appearance, in a 3–2 loss to Barnsley.[17] Three days later, he scored in the 81st minute of a 1–0 win over Leeds United, but within minutes was sent off after receiving two yellow cards for kicking the ball away and deliberate handball.[18]

According to Mowbray, Main "came here on trial and trained with the youth team and you could see the power and speed he's got. His finishing with both feet is breathtaking at times. Whether the ball drops to his right foot or left foot, he doesn't hesitate. ... Physicality isn't going to be an issue for Curtis throughout his career. He's a boy who spends a lot of time looking after his physique and he's very, very strong."[19]

Loan to Shrewsbury Town

On 30 August 2013, Main joined League One club Shrewsbury Town on loan for an initial month.[20] He made his Shrewsbury debut the following day as a substitute against Coventry City and provided the assist for Tom Bradshaw in a 1–1 draw.[21] His loan period was not extended, and he returned to Middlesbrough on 3 October having made six appearances for Shrewsbury in all competitions.[22]

Doncaster Rovers

On 30 July 2014, Main signed a three-year contract with League One club Doncaster Rovers. The transfer was part of the deal by which James Husband joined Middlesbrough from Doncaster for an undisclosed fee.[23]

Loan to Oldham

Main joined Oldham Athletic of League One on 15 February 2016 on loan until the end of the season.[24] In March, Doncaster attempted to recall Main, but all parties had to agree on his return, and Main refused.[25] With Oldham and Doncaster both trying to avoid relegation to League Two, Doncaster manager Darren Ferguson considered Main's decision "unfortunate".[26] After Main helped Oldham stay up while his parent club did not, he was transfer-listed at the end of the season.[27]

Portsmouth

On 4 July 2016, Main signed a two-year contract with League Two club Portsmouth. The fee was undisclosed.[28] He scored his first goal for Portsmouth on his debut, in a 3–2 EFL Cup loss against Coventry City on 9 August,[29] and continued as a regular member of the matchday squad, scoring 5 goals from 14 appearances,[30] before back and hamstring problems put paid to his season.[31] After Portsmouth gained promotion to League One as League Two champions,[32] Main played little, unable to dislodge Brett Pitman and Ollie Hawkins from the starting eleven, and in January 2018 he was allowed to leave by mutual consent.[33]

Motherwell

Main joined Scottish Premiership club Motherwell on 3 January 2018 on an 18-month deal.[34] He made his debut for Motherwell on 20 January, in a 2–0 win against Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Cup.[35] His first goal for the club came in a 2–0 win at home to Ross County.[36] He followed this up with goals in his next two matches, away to Heart of Midlothian[37] and Hibernian.[38] On 14 April 2018, Main scored twice in a Scottish Cup semi-final as Motherwell beat Aberdeen 3–0 to reach their second cup final of the season.[39]

Aberdeen

On 5 June 2019, Main joined fellow Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen on a two-year deal.[40]

Shrewsbury Town

Main joined English League One club Shrewsbury Town on 1 February 2021 until the end of the season.[41] He scored his first goal on 23 February in a 4–2 win over MK Dons, and scored twice from 20 league matches before leaving the club following the expiry of his contract.[42][43]

St Mirren

Main returned to Scotland and signed a two-year deal with Scottish Premiership club St Mirren on 7 June 2021.[44]

Bengaluru

On 18 July 2023, Main signed for Indian Super League club Bengaluru on a one-year contract, with the option to extend for a further year.[45]

Dundee

On 17 January 2024, after agreeing to mutually part ways with Bengaluru, Main returned to Scotland with Scottish Premiership club Dundee on an 18-month deal.[46] He made his debut on 20 January, as a substitute in a Scottish Cup game away to Kilmarnock.[47]

Main opened his scoring account with Dundee on 13 July 2024 in style, scoring a hat-trick in a 7–1 away victory over Bonnyrigg Rose in the Scottish League Cup group stage.[48] Main scored his first league goal for Dundee on 31 August against former club St Mirren.[49]

Ayr United

On 25 January 2025, Main's Dundee contract was terminated by mutual consent[50] and he signed an 18-month contract with Scottish Championship club Ayr United.[51] Main made his debut for the Honest Men the same day, coming on as a substitute in a league win over Partick Thistle.[52] On 1 March, Main scored his first goals for Ayr United, netting a brace in a home league win over Airdrieonians.[53]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 May 2025
More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Darlington 2007–08[54] League Two 1000000010
2008–09[55] League Two 182001000192
2009–10[56] League Two 26310101[c]0293
2010–11[57] Conference Premier 160103[d]2202
Total 615202042697
Middlesbrough 2011–12[58] Championship 1221000132
2012–13[59] Championship 1331000143
2013–14[60] Championship 2311010251
Total 486301000526
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2013–14[60] League One 501[c]060
Doncaster Rovers 2014–15[61] League One 38842101[c]04410
2015–16[62] League One 10110201[c]0141
Total 4895230205811
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2015–16[62] League One 184184
Portsmouth 2016–17[30] League Two 12200111[e]2145
2017–18[63] League One 5000004[e]191
Total 172001153236
Motherwell 2017–18[63] Scottish Premiership 16553218
2018–19[64] Scottish Premiership 3131053376
Total 4786353005814
Aberdeen 2019–20[57] Scottish Premiership 18440003[f]0254
2020–21[57] Scottish Premiership 14200102[f]1173
Total 326401051427
Shrewsbury Town 2020–21[42] League One 202202
St Mirren 2021–22[65] Scottish Premiership 3120042354
2022–23[66] Scottish Premiership 3792000399
Total 68112042007413
Bengaluru 2023–24[57] Indian Super League 8282
Dundee 2023–24[67] Scottish Premiership 1401000150
2024–25[68] Scottish Premiership 142006400206
Total 282106400356
Ayr United 2024–25[68] Scottish Championship 124101[g] 0144
Career total 41261245231018647782
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  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearances in FA Trophy
  3. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. Appearance(s) in the Scottish Premiership play-offs

Honours

Portsmouth

References

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