On This Day 1939: ‘Iron Man’ George Curtis (CCFC Legend & CCFPA Member) Was Born!
George in the Sky Blue
Today we remember once more a giant of football in the City of Coventry. Eighty four years ago today a true Coventry City Legend, before his all too recent death, a long time CCFPA member George Curtis was born in Dover on 5th May 1939.
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 uncompromising centre-half and captain who led by example and would never give up especially when the chips were down.
George leads out the Sky Blues in 1967
George Curtis- Sky Blue MD
On retirement from playing 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 from April 1986 he forged a successful managerial partnership at Highfield Road with fellow former Sky Blue player (and fellow CCFPA member) John Sillett as Chief Coach, the duumvirate magically co-managed the Sky Blues to stunning success in the 1986-87 F.A.Cup Final in May 1987 (pictured right). Was that really more than a third of a century ago?
John & George – Sky Blue Legends both and since their recent passing both deeply missed!
George Curtis Cathedral Service
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 publicly at an official event in the City when he attended the service in Coventry Cathedral in February 2016 celebrating the life and career of, in many ways, his mentor Jimmy Hill. The great man himself passed away in July 2021 and received his own commemorative memorial ceremony at the Cathedral the following month!
George in 1957-58
George was originally brought to Coventry from Snowdown Colliery in October 1955 as an apprentice and was so impressive he made his debut at sixteen 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 were a period of struggle for the club as they dropped into Division Four for 1958-59. However, he made himself an indispensable fixture at No.5 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 fully 40 years.
Tragically, George had his leg broken at Nottingham 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 (also passed away in the last few years) Maurice Setters, eventually filled the gap from November and the Sky Blues survived to fight another 33 campaigns at the top.
George Curtis & (now CCFPA committee man) Dietmar Bruck
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 (four 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?
George, you will always be regarded as a Sky Blue hero. R.I.P.
