Happy Birthday From CCFPA to George ‘Iron Man’ Curtis!

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Action- 1963(c) Curtis leads out teamThe Association sends its very best wishes on his 77th birthday to a true Coventry City Legend, CCFPA member George Curtis.  One of only a handful of CCFC players who were able to make the transition from Division Four football in 1958 to Division One glory less than a decade later George was an integral part of our iconic manager Jimmy Hill‘s ‘Sky Blue Revolution’. As the Sky Blues rose through the divisions to the top the ‘Iron Man’ was greatly feared by opposing forwards as uncomromising centre half and captain who led by example and would never give up especially when the chips were down.

George in 1957-58

George in 1957-58

Born in Dover on 5th May 1939 he was brought to Coventry from Snowdown Colliery in October 1955 as an apprentice and was so impressive he made his debut for the Bantams at right back at Newport County in April 1956 in the old Division Three South, earning a professional contract a month later. His early years at Highfield Road was a period of struggle for the club as they dropped into Division 4 for 1958-59. However, he made himself an indispensible fixture at centre-half from that season on and promotion was achieved at the end of the season. With the arrival of JH, the ‘Sky Blue Messiah’ in 1961 the club began its amazing upward journey to the top tier of English football with George at its centre-piece. He has made an immense contribution to the CCFC story over approaching 40 years.

George in the Sky Blue

George in the Sky Blue

Tragically, George broke his leg at Forest in the Sky Blues second game in the top flight in August 1967 and did not recover a place in the side until towards the end of the campaign. The team struggled to replace him until another grizzled war horse, Maurice Setters, eventually filled the gap from November and the Sky Blues survived to fight another 33 campaigns at the top.  George only remained for the following season before moving a few miles west to help out local rivals Aston Villa from December 1969 until he finally hung up his boots in 1972. At Highfield Road George amassed 487 League, and 51 F.A. and League Cup appearances (and 13 goals in total). If you add the 57 outings (4 goals) he made for the Villa to his 538 CCFC appearances George had an impressive playing career approaching 600 outings. An England youth international (1956-58) who knows whether full international recognition would have come his way but for the fractured leg?

Curtis, G (George) & Sillett, J (John (fac 1987)On retirement George came back to his footballing home in 1977 and became Coventry City’s Commercial Manager before taking up the role of paid Executive Director in 1983; No one in Coventry can forget what happened when he then took over the managerial reigns at Highfield Road in April 1986. With former Sky Blue player John Sillett as his chief coach, the diumvirate magically co-managed the Sky Blues to stunning success in the 1986-87 F.A.Cup Final (pictured left).

Becoming CCFC Managing Director in May 1987 George eventually retired in May 1994 and since then has made a number of cameo appearances at Association events.  Though not in the best of health, George was last seen publically at an official event in the City when he attended the service in Coventry Cathedral celebrating the life and career of, in many ways, his mentor Jimmy Hill.

Happy Birthday ‘Iron Man’. We would love to see you at a CCFPA event/ Sky Blues home game next season!

 

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