Tom Curry
Encyclopedia
Tom Curry was an English
footballer who played as a half back
for Newcastle United
and Stockport County
in the 1920s. After retiring from playing, he became the club trainer at Carlisle United
; he remained in that job for four years, before becoming the trainer for Manchester United
, a position he held until his death in the Munich air disaster
.
, County Durham
, Curry began his football career with his local side, Newcastle United
. He played as a half-back, making 221 appearances between 1919 and 1929, and scoring five goals. In 1929, he moved to Stockport County
, for whom he played for one season; he scored once in 19 league appearances for Stockport.
In 1930, Curry retired from playing football and began to focus on coaching; he was soon appointed as the trainer of Carlisle United
. After four years with Carlisle, Curry was picked up by Manchester United
, who were then managed by Scott Duncan
. Football was suspended due to the Second World War
in 1939, and when it started up again, Curry had a new manager in Matt Busby
.
In 1958, Curry travelled to Yugoslavia with the Manchester United team for a European Cup quarter-final second leg against Red Star Belgrade
. On the way back, the plane carrying the team stopped in Munich for refuelling. However, due to slush on the runway, the plane was unsuccessful in its third take-off attempt and crashed, killing more than half of the passengers, including Curry. The incident, which came to be known as the Munich air disaster
, also claimed the lives of eight Manchester United players.
Curry was cremated at Manchester Crematorium.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played as a half back
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
in the 1920s. After retiring from playing, he became the club trainer at Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
; he remained in that job for four years, before becoming the trainer for Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, a position he held until his death in the Munich air disaster
Munich air disaster
The Munich air disaster occurred on 6 February 1958, when British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport in Munich, West Germany. On board the plane was the Manchester United football team, nicknamed the "Busby Babes",...
.
Career
Born in South ShieldsSouth Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, Curry began his football career with his local side, Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. He played as a half-back, making 221 appearances between 1919 and 1929, and scoring five goals. In 1929, he moved to Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, for whom he played for one season; he scored once in 19 league appearances for Stockport.
In 1930, Curry retired from playing football and began to focus on coaching; he was soon appointed as the trainer of Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
. After four years with Carlisle, Curry was picked up by Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, who were then managed by Scott Duncan
Scott Duncan
Adam Scott Mattheson Duncan was a Scottish professional footballer and manager.-Playing career:Born in Dumbarton, Duncan was working as a law clerk when he joined his home-town club Dumbarton in 1906. He moved to Newcastle United in March 1908 for a fee of £150...
. Football was suspended due to the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939, and when it started up again, Curry had a new manager in Matt Busby
Matt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby, CBE, KCSG was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Manchester United between 1945 and 1969 and again for the second half of the 1970–1971 season...
.
In 1958, Curry travelled to Yugoslavia with the Manchester United team for a European Cup quarter-final second leg against Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
. On the way back, the plane carrying the team stopped in Munich for refuelling. However, due to slush on the runway, the plane was unsuccessful in its third take-off attempt and crashed, killing more than half of the passengers, including Curry. The incident, which came to be known as the Munich air disaster
Munich air disaster
The Munich air disaster occurred on 6 February 1958, when British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at Munich-Riem Airport in Munich, West Germany. On board the plane was the Manchester United football team, nicknamed the "Busby Babes",...
, also claimed the lives of eight Manchester United players.
Curry was cremated at Manchester Crematorium.