Bob Curtis (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Dennis "Bob" Curtis (25 January 1950 – 19 March 2010) was an English football player who played as a right full back, most notably for Charlton Athletic
. He also represented Mansfield Town
and Kettering Town
.
Bob was born in Langwith Whaley-Thorns in Nottinghamshire and was scouted by Charlton Athletic whilst playing as a striker for local side Shirebrook Town
, where Bob was playing as a striker. He signed for Charlton in February 1967, and was given his chance in the first team after Billy Bonds
had been sold to West Ham United
.
Curtis represented Charlton Athletic for 12 seasons, and in that time, he made 337 league
appearances for the Addicks, and scored 35 goals. He was famously once expelled from the England
under-23 squad after he dyed his hair blonde, to make him look like his idol Bobby Moore
.
After a disagreement with the Charlton management staff, Curtis was sold to Mansfield Town in his native East Midlands
for an undisclosed fee in March 1978. During his time with the Stags, he made 73 league appearances for the club, and 87 in all competitions, scoring seven goals. An achilles injury forced him to retire from full-time football in 1980, and he subsequently played one season for non-league Kettering Town before hanging up his boots in 1981.
Curtis died in March 2010, aged 60, after a lengthy battle against motor neurone disease
.
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
. He also represented Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
and Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
.
Bob was born in Langwith Whaley-Thorns in Nottinghamshire and was scouted by Charlton Athletic whilst playing as a striker for local side Shirebrook Town
Shirebrook Town F.C.
Shirebrook Town F.C. are a football club based in Shirebrook, England. They are currently in Division One of the Northern Counties East Football League and play at Langwith Road.-History:...
, where Bob was playing as a striker. He signed for Charlton in February 1967, and was given his chance in the first team after Billy Bonds
Billy Bonds
William Arthur "Billy" Bonds MBE is a former professional footballer and manager, who is most often associated with West Ham United with whom he spent 27 years as player and manager...
had been sold to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
.
Curtis represented Charlton Athletic for 12 seasons, and in that time, he made 337 league
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
appearances for the Addicks, and scored 35 goals. He was famously once expelled from the 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...
under-23 squad after he dyed his hair blonde, to make him look like his idol Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
.
After a disagreement with the Charlton management staff, Curtis was sold to Mansfield Town in his native East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
for an undisclosed fee in March 1978. During his time with the Stags, he made 73 league appearances for the club, and 87 in all competitions, scoring seven goals. An achilles injury forced him to retire from full-time football in 1980, and he subsequently played one season for non-league Kettering Town before hanging up his boots in 1981.
Curtis died in March 2010, aged 60, after a lengthy battle against motor neurone disease
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
.