John Curtis
Encyclopedia
John Charles Keyworth Curtis (born 3 September 1978 in Nuneaton
, England
) is an English
footballer. He is a versatile defender
who can play anywhere along the back four or even as a defensive midfielder.
, he was tipped as a huge star for the future, being part of their FA Youth Cup
-winning team in 1995 (when he was still only 16 years old and in his final year of secondary school) and turning professional in 1997.
He proved himself as competent at right-back and centre-back after making his debut in a 7–0 home win over Barnsley
in the FA Premier League
on 25 October 1997, and made a further seven league appearances in 1997–98 as United finished second in the league, but he managed just five more league appearances before joining Division One
promotion chasers Barnsley
on loan on 19 November 1999, scoring twice in 28 league games as they qualified for the playoffs but lost 4–2 to Ipswich Town
in the final at Wembley Stadium
.
Blackburn Rovers
manager Graeme Souness
was impressed by the young defender, and managed to prise Curtis away from Manchester United during the summer of 2000 for a fee of £1.5million. During the next season he was an ever present as Blackburn were promoted to the Premiership
as Division One runners-up. By this time he had also represented England at youth, Under-21 and 'B' level and was being hailed as a future England
captain.
However, his 2001–02 Premier League campaign was dogged by injury, limiting him to just 10 league appearances. He failed to regain his regular starting place, and spent the second half of the 2002–03 season on loan to Sheffield United
. At the end of the season he was released by Blackburn on a free transfer, and was signed by Leicester City
(newly promoted to the Premier League) on a two-year contract.
However, Curtis' spell at Leicester was an unhappy one, and after making just 17 Premier League appearances, he opted for a move to Portsmouth
in February 2004, where he teamed up with Harry Redknapp
.
After failing to win a regular starting place in the side, at the start of 2004–05 he was loaned to Preston North End
. Preston manager Billy Davis was impressed by Curtis and offered him a permanent contract after his impressive loan spell. Upon Curtis' to Portsmouth at the end of October, he spoke of his determination to win a regular place in the first team and get his career back on track.
However, he made only five appearances under Harry Redknapp, and failed to play at all under Redknapp's successor Velimir Zajec
. In January 2005, Curtis moved on a free transfer to Nottingham Forest
, initially on a short-term contract before signing a two-year deal at the end of the season.
He established himself as Forest's first-choice right-back, prompting them to offer to extend his contract by a further two years. However, Curtis rejected the offer when Forest missed out on promotion to the Championship. Shortly afterwards, Forest announced that they would not be re-offering Curtis an improved contract, and that he would therefore be free to leave after 30 June 2007.
Curtis signed for Queens Park Rangers
on a free transfer on 30 June 2007. However, after the sacking of John Gregory, Curtis' first team opportunities dried up and his contract was terminated by QPR in December 2007.
Following a trial with Notts County
, Curtis was badly injured and was forced to sit out the first half of the 2008–09 season. He joined Worcester City
in January 2009 to gain valuable match fitness after his lengthy lay off, and then signed for Conference National side Wrexham at the end of February. He was reluctant to play in the Conference and turned down the chance of joining Wrexham for the following season. On 28 July, Curtis signed a one-year deal at Northampton Town
after an impressing manager Stuart Gray during a pre-season trial. He made his league debut in the defeat at Chesterfield
. He was released by the club on 12 May 2010 along with five other players
In May 2010, Curtis joined A-League
club Gold Coast United on trial, signing a permanent deal with the club on 16 June. He made his debut in the home defeat against Melbourne Victory
.
Nuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer. He is a versatile defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who can play anywhere along the back four or even as a defensive midfielder.
Career
Beginning his career at Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, he was tipped as a huge star for the future, being part of their FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
-winning team in 1995 (when he was still only 16 years old and in his final year of secondary school) and turning professional in 1997.
He proved himself as competent at right-back and centre-back after making his debut in a 7–0 home win over Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
on 25 October 1997, and made a further seven league appearances in 1997–98 as United finished second in the league, but he managed just five more league appearances before joining Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
promotion chasers Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on loan on 19 November 1999, scoring twice in 28 league games as they qualified for the playoffs but lost 4–2 to Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
in the final at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
.
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
manager Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
was impressed by the young defender, and managed to prise Curtis away from Manchester United during the summer of 2000 for a fee of £1.5million. During the next season he was an ever present as Blackburn were promoted to the Premiership
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
as Division One runners-up. By this time he had also represented England at youth, Under-21 and 'B' level and was being hailed as a future England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
captain.
However, his 2001–02 Premier League campaign was dogged by injury, limiting him to just 10 league appearances. He failed to regain his regular starting place, and spent the second half of the 2002–03 season on loan to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. At the end of the season he was released by Blackburn on a free transfer, and was signed by Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
(newly promoted to the Premier League) on a two-year contract.
However, Curtis' spell at Leicester was an unhappy one, and after making just 17 Premier League appearances, he opted for a move to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in February 2004, where he teamed up with Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
.
After failing to win a regular starting place in the side, at the start of 2004–05 he was loaned to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. Preston manager Billy Davis was impressed by Curtis and offered him a permanent contract after his impressive loan spell. Upon Curtis' to Portsmouth at the end of October, he spoke of his determination to win a regular place in the first team and get his career back on track.
However, he made only five appearances under Harry Redknapp, and failed to play at all under Redknapp's successor Velimir Zajec
Velimir Zajec
Velimir Zajec is a former Croatian footballer and manager.-Career:Zajec began his career at Dinamo Zagreb in 1974, aged 18. During 10 years at the club, he helped them to two domestic cup wins, as well as the league title, their first title honour in 24 years...
. In January 2005, Curtis moved on a free transfer to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, initially on a short-term contract before signing a two-year deal at the end of the season.
He established himself as Forest's first-choice right-back, prompting them to offer to extend his contract by a further two years. However, Curtis rejected the offer when Forest missed out on promotion to the Championship. Shortly afterwards, Forest announced that they would not be re-offering Curtis an improved contract, and that he would therefore be free to leave after 30 June 2007.
Curtis signed for Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
on a free transfer on 30 June 2007. However, after the sacking of John Gregory, Curtis' first team opportunities dried up and his contract was terminated by QPR in December 2007.
Following a trial with Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, Curtis was badly injured and was forced to sit out the first half of the 2008–09 season. He joined Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
in January 2009 to gain valuable match fitness after his lengthy lay off, and then signed for Conference National side Wrexham at the end of February. He was reluctant to play in the Conference and turned down the chance of joining Wrexham for the following season. On 28 July, Curtis signed a one-year deal at Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
after an impressing manager Stuart Gray during a pre-season trial. He made his league debut in the defeat at Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
. He was released by the club on 12 May 2010 along with five other players
In May 2010, Curtis joined A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club Gold Coast United on trial, signing a permanent deal with the club on 16 June. He made his debut in the home defeat against Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
.
Club
Blackburn Rovers- League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: 2001–022002 Football League Cup FinalThe 2002 Worthington Cup Final was played between Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Sunday, 24 February 2002. Blackburn won the match 2–1....