29 Facts About Ernie Curtis

Ernest Robert Curtis was a Welsh professional footballer who played as an outside forward.

Ernie Curtis made his senior debut in 1926 and helped the side win both the FA Cup and Welsh Cup in his first season.

Ernie Curtis was sold to Birmingham in 1928 where he went on to make more than 160 appearances in all competitions during a five-year spell.

Ernie Curtis reached a second FA Cup final in 1931 but was on the losing side.

Ernie Curtis returned to Cardiff in 1933 but became involved in a wage dispute with the club and never featured for the side again.

Ernie Curtis finished his career with Hartlepools United where he spent one year before retiring.

Ernie Curtis spent the rest of the war in a prisoner-of-war camp.

Ernie Curtis later worked as a trainer for Cardiff before becoming a publican.

Ernie Curtis featured more than 30 times in all competitions during his debut season, which was limited by an ankle injury sustained in March 1927.

Ernie Curtis had previously played in all five matches en route to the club reaching the 1927 FA Cup Final but his injury meant he was unlikely to play in the final.

Ernie Curtis was therefore brought back into the starting lineup for the final, becoming the youngest ever player to have appeared in an FA Cup final at the age of 19 years and 317 days.

Ernie Curtis scored the opening goal of the game, after beating his man on the edge of the penalty area before shooting into the roof of the net, and combined with teammate Joe Bradford to force the ball over the line for his second goal later in the game.

Ernie Curtis had contributed 45 goals from 165 appearances in the First Division, and 9 goals from 17 FA Cup ties.

Ernie Curtis rejoined Cardiff in November 1933 after five years with Birmingham with his hometown club now playing in the Third Division South.

Ernie Curtis featured in 19 consecutive matches in all competitions following his return, scoring 7 times, and took up the captaincy of the squad after Tom Maidment stepped down from the role.

Ernie Curtis remained contracted to Cardiff until 1935 but did not feature in a senior fixture after March 1934 and even returned to Birmingham where he began running a pub.

Ernie Curtis was sold to Coventry City on 8 February 1935, after the club secured his release from his contract, and he made his debut the following day against Bristol City.

However, having not played a first team game for nearly a year, Ernie Curtis was described in the Coventry Evening Telegraph as "a complete failure".

The club's promotion led to Ernie Curtis being primarily a reserve team player the following year, during which time he played numerous roles in defence, midfield and attack.

Ernie Curtis instead signed for Third Division North side Hartlepools United.

The club struggled throughout the season and Ernie Curtis was utilised in several positions during the first half of the campaign.

Ernie Curtis retired in 1938 after one season at the County Durham side.

However, following his move to Birmingham, Ernie Curtis rarely featured for the national side after the club frequently refused to release him for international duty.

Ernie Curtis turned down at least one call-up himself to assist Birmingham when they were struggling against relegation.

Ernie Curtis gave Wales the lead after converting a penalty kick he had won himself before adding a second later in the game.

Ernie Curtis married Gwendoline McJennett, the sister of his Cardiff City teammate Jack McJennett, in August 1928 at St Paul's Church in Cardiff.

Ernie Curtis later attributed his survival to the fitness obtained from his football career.

Ernie Curtis later managed the Ninian Park and Landsowne Hotel pubs in Cardiff.

Ernie Curtis died in Cardiff in November 1992, aged 85.