Meath Sports Awards: Rising star Sam Curtis scoops Young Sportsperson of the Year award
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Sam Curtis in action for the Republic of Ireland during the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifier against Italy at Turners Cross. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile Eóin Noonan / SPORTSFILEImage 2 of 3
Sam Curtis won the Meath Chronicle Young Sportsperson of the Year Award. At the presentation (from left) were Noel Moran (Bective Tea Rooms), Jimmy Geoghegan (Meath Chronicle), Darren Curtis (representing his son Sam), Valerie Moran (Bective Tea Rooms) and Paddy Kelly of category sponsor Meath Local Sports Partnership. David MullenImage 3 of 3
Meath Chronicle’s Jimmy Geoghegan interviewing Darren Curtis at Bective Tea Rooms last Friday. David MullenSam Curtis wasn't in attendance at the Bective Tea Rooms last Friday morning to receive his award for the Meath Chronicle 'Young Sports Person of the Year' award. Instead he was settling into his new life in Sheffield.
Speculation was widespread for some time that the talented teenager (he just turned 18 in December) would be signing for an English club - the only question was who? It turned out to be the Blades in the end and the hope is the young Navan man will push on to fulfil the rich reservoir of footballing talent he undoubtedly possesses.
Sheffield Utd are a Premier League club and Bramell Lane is where a sizeable contingent of Irish players have found themselves over the years including John Egan, Enda Stevens, David McGoldrick, Paddy Kenny and Alan Kelly junior to name a few.
"I ultimately made the decision to come here because I think the club is on the rise and, obviously, Chris Wilder is back in as manager which is good. You can see that the club love him, and all the players really respect him," Curtis was quoted as saying after moving to the Yorkshire club adding that he felt a warm welcome there.
While still only at the foothills of his career young Sam has already achieved so much - the youngest player, EVER, to turn out for mighty Shamrock Rovers. He was just 14 at the time the tender age pointing to a remarkable precociousness. He later became the youngest player to turn out for St Patrick's Athletic in a competitive game against Waterford Utd. He played in Europe for St Pat's and has been capped at various levels for the Republic of Ireland.
Towards the end of last year he helped St Pat's win the FAI Cup before a record 43,881 at the Aviva. He was also voted PFAI 'Young Footballer of the Year'. Now another stage beckons.
On Friday Sam was represented at the Bective Tea Rooms by his father Darren who himself played in Shamrock Rovers' famous Hoops for a time. Darren and his wife Lisa have five children - Ben, Sam, Max, Cole and Esme - all of whom appear to have a marvellous ability to play football.
Darren pointed out how Ben had a lot to do with guiding Sam in the early days of his career with the older brother becoming something of an inspiration for his younger sibling. They played together at Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic before Ben moved onto to Drogheda Utd.
Last year Ben stepped away from football citing "mental health" issues but Darren says he is in a very positive place now and remains part of a strong family unit.
"Ben has a lot to do with where Sam is right now because they played alongside each other nearly all the way up until last year," Darren told the Meath Chronicle.
"Also the family unit is very important. My wife Lisa runs a business (Esme Hair and Beauty in Navan) and she is very supportive. Ben is working in that now and very happy, he's in a great place and doing really, really well we're very proud of him, as we are of all our children.
"Sam has great determination, great willpower and that has greatly helped him so far but we're all there to support him and each other in whatever way we can. That support is so important for any young person making their way in the world."
Darren Curtis is not short of advice to parents with talented young sports people in the family.
"Let them go out and play, let them express themselves. They do make mistakes, we're all guilty of that. I've learned from coaching kids myself you have to let them make mistakes and don't put pressure on them because pressure leads to more pressure.
"It's important they are not looking over at the sideline when they make a mistake, fearful. It's about friends, family members getting together and providing a strong, supportive environment because they will need all that," concluded the proud dad.