Not really but here is a recent interview with him in Irish independent remier League ‘I want to be the first Sam Curtis, not the next Reece James’ – St Pat’s midfielder on Chelsea captain contact please log in to view this image Sam Curtis before Ireland's European U-21 qualifier against Norway. Photo: Marius Simensen/Sportsfile Seán O'Connor Thu 23 Nov 2023 at 02:30 There aren’t many 17-year-olds who have Chelsea captain Reece James in their contacts book, but Ireland U-21 defender Sam Curtis is one of that select group. In September, the Navan teenager woke to find a message from James on his phone the morning after revealing that the England defender, also a fellow full-back, is an inspiration of his. After a stunning season with St Patrick’s Athletic, Curtis also admits he has “probably” played his last game for the Saints after an impressive performance in their FAI Cup final triumph earlier this month. Speaking for the first time about the surprise message from James, Curtis says he feels very privileged to have the Champions League winner on hand if he ever needs advice. “He texted me on Instagram the morning that piece came out, I wasn’t even awake yet!” Curtis told the Irish Independent. “Fair play to him, because he didn’t have to do that. It means a lot. He told me I could come to him if I ever needed advice, which is really nice to hear from a player in his category. “I was delighted, it was brilliant. I am basing my game around him, but as I said, I want to be the first Sam Curtis, not the next Reece James, but it’s nice to have him there. I’m just happy he reached out. He is an inspiration to me. I’m very privileged and very blessed.” With a number of Premier League clubs interested in the defender, Curtis admits that Cup final triumph was likely to be his last appearance for St Pat’s but hailed the club for helping him develop into a senior footballer. please log in to view this image Sam Curtis in action for St Patrick's Athletic during the FAI Cup final. Photo: Sportsfile The teenager already has an impressive number of first-team appearances under his belt before his 18th birthday next week. “That was my 60th (appearance), and probably last game for St Pat’s. I won’t say last yet. We’ll see what happens come January. But it was a brilliant week for me,” said Curtis, one of four Ireland U-21 internationals involved in the Saints’ fifth FAI Cup win this month. “My head turned fast coming straight into international duty (this month). I had some celebrations with the St Pat’s boys, but then it was straight into camp. I’m very privileged to be called up to the U-21s again and forever thankful to be wearing that Ireland jersey.” The rising star also started all but two of St Pat’s league games this term, helping the Inchicore side to wrap up European football for next season with a third-place finish before their Cup triumph. “I have that bit of experience that most players my age probably wouldn’t have. I’m really enjoying it,” said Curtis, who also has been nominated for the PFA Ireland Young Player of the Year. “I just take it in my stride. I have great people around me at St Pat’s and here with the U-21s. The senior games and being in the U-21 squad so young, I think it only stands to me. “It’s just normal for me now, so I try to be as chill about it as I can and take it day by day. The 60 games have been brilliant, I think it stands to me in these (international) games, too.” Curtis has established himself as the first-choice right-back in Jim Crawford’s U-21 side in this campaign. And after lining out at Lansdowne Road for the first time this month, the teenager believes he isn’t too far away from breaking into the Irish senior set-up, just as his U-21 team-mate Andrew Moran did this month. “The Cup final was unbelievable. Forty-three thousand there? It was a pinch-yourself thing,” said Curtis, who played the full 90 minutes in the Saints’ 3-1 win over Dublin rivals Bohemians. “But when the game started, it was just like playing in Richmond Park on a normal weekend, it was fine. I took it in as much as I could and was just very happy to win the Cup.” Curtis hopes his next appearance at the Dublin 4 venue will be in an Ireland senior shirt. “I’m with the U-21s now and that’s my full focus. Obviously, I’m always pushing to get in the senior squad. To be honest, I don’t think I’m too far away. I a 100 per cent believe in myself. “I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. If I get the call-up, I’ll be forever thankful, but I’m very happy here with the U-21s. “Hopefully, in the next year or two, or whatever it is, I can get that (senior call-up). But it’s down to hard work. “That’s what I know I need to do and it’s what I am doing. I’m just giving 100pc every time I step on that pitch in an Irish jersey.” While those are dreams for the future, back in the present, Curtis will now consider his next moves carefully. There aren’t many 17-year-olds who are on the trajectory he’s currently enjoying. But you get the feeling that, in the not-too-distant future, James won’t be the only star name in Curtis’s phonebook
sounds like a prospect mate and if we are trying for him then he might just see a better career path at Leeds who are using some kids like Archie and half the team, rather than playing U21 footy or sitting on the bench at a prem club?
To be fair a 4 from Bamford is because he did nothing. I'm sure if he got involved his rating would have dropped.
Bamford, Dallas, Cooper and Ayling don’t play but get big pay and 3 of them out of contract in the summer but costing us over £100k per week in wages. Ayling not playing but injured again anyway
Think it's a joke when an ok women's goal keeper wins this,but the public voted it,so got to go with it,if we had been that bothered we should have voted.
Unless the BBC rigged it like they do with Strictly so that a cripple 2 blokes wearing dresses or a black dwarf get to the final lets face it the Earps woman won nothing whereas the other people including the scouse girl heptathlete won the world title for the 2nd time. The BBC broadcast the WSL and only get 34 viewers
For any secret scummers out there, your new hero has landed. Hopefully Dave Brailsford won’t sack Ten Hag as I’m having so much fun https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1738952060404408699?s=20
3 of those are a good influence but Bamford doing nothing must pee others off and not getting a chance.
You usually bring subs in as a “fresh set of legs” and he didn’t even seem to run around very much. He must be doing something right otherwise Farke wouldn’t use him?
Have a good one everybody I’m on my 2nd bottle of red and hope you all end up lashed and get some proper men’s prezzies
One observation from yesterday was Marag Parathas face whilst watching that performance and the atmosphere. He must have had a hard on from minute 1
Tbh, thought he looked like he’d lost a tenner and found a fiver. Must have just heard that the summer want aways, fancy returning in the summer, on the back of our first half performance.
Evening all. A day without football is nearly as bad as a day without wine. So thank god today wasn't a double whammy
