On October 25, former (often deadly) veteran striker Jamie Cureton was celebrating an incredible milestone. At age 50, he had become the first player to score in the top ten divisions of English football. An unexpected one at that, considering he only joined Kings Park Rangers ten days prior to this historic goal. This stunning accomplishment happened in an important 4-1 win against Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers in the Eastern Counties League Division One North.
Cureton just turned 50 in August and he’s in the midst of celebrating a truly remarkable career. He first took the field in 1994 with Norwich City in the English Premier League. He is known for his goal-scoring prowess and has set his sights on reaching 400 goals throughout his career. This most recent milestone is just one more addition to his storied career, as he approaches 1,100 games played.
Almost 24 years later, he still scored the most memorable one. Prior to that, he scored what he calls his favorite goal ever, for Reading against Brentford in the FA Cup. This contrast between these two priorities underscores Cureton’s long-term outlook and commitment to the sport.
Only a little more than a month ago, Cureton had resigned his position as player-manager of non-league Cambridge City. His departure came just before this big moment. Despite this setback, he quickly found a new opportunity with Kings Park Rangers, showcasing his resilience and passion for the game.
“I knew I’d scored in nine, but it hadn’t been spoken about for a long period of time so it was forgotten about,” Cureton remarked about his scoring record. In fact, the response to his milestone goal has been astounding. Social media erupted once a teammate posted the story online!
“Josh was buzzing and couldn’t wait to get home to post it and, from the moment he did, I’ve had to charge my phone about three times a day, every day, where it’s just constant!” – Jamie Cureton
Recently, Cureton’s accomplishments have attracted a lot of media attention. He’s done interviews with English, French and German media telling his story, telling the world about his pathway as a player and his dreams. As he continues to gaze into the future, he is well aware of the treacherous road that lies ahead when chasing further milestones.
“That’s the target. I was told quite a while ago I only needed six and then I’ve checked different things and it seems to be between 10 and 12, so I’ve said to myself, if I get 10, that should be enough,” Cureton stated when discussing his goal tally.
As successful as he is on the field, Cureton’s head is still in the game and his focus on performing well is evident. Speaking about future targets, he said, “Everything else beyond that is quite far away. I’m closing in on 1,100 games, so again that would probably be another thing. If I can do both of them this season, I say this every time I’ve got a target, but I’ll be happy.”
Cureton’s continuing dedication to the sport leaps at you knowing he’ll keep playing so long as he feels he can. I’m going to continue doing it, as long as I’ve got the time and I’m healthy enough to do it. I’ll just try to continue to show up and get behind the defense a little bit and finish a few more,” he said.
He’s an undeniable believer in his man on a team. He is, of course, excited to further his career at whatever level is best fit for him to help the most. “I’ve always said that if someone wants me and I feel I can do a job for them and the team and I’m not letting anyone down, then I’ll continue to play, wherever that be, whatever level that is,” Cureton expressed.
As Jamie Cureton continues to enjoy this latest landmark, he’ll continue to reflect on the special place that he now occupies in footballing history.
“It always gets spoken about that I’m still one of the only players from when FIFA first came out to still be playing!” – Jamie Cureton
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