Curtis: It’s an honour to be captain

CURTIS Davies says it is an honour to be named Derby County’s captain for the new season.

The 36-year-old centre-half signed a one-year deal with the Rams last month and has now been appointed captain, while Academy graduate Max Bird is the vice-captain.

“It feels good,” Davies told Rams TV.

“To be named as the captain of this club is an honour. It doesn’t change me, I’m still the same person whether I have the armband or not.

The last time I was named captain, I didn’t play many games because I was injured with my Achillies, so it will be good to finally have the armband back properly. I will be trying to help the team, as I always do.

“It was the worst kept secret, really. People come to me about things and in the games I have been captain so it’s leant towards that, but Liam addressed it and told me he wanted to make it formal and make me captain.

“I’m delighted and I don’t take it lightly. I’m not going to be extra busy on the pitch, I will just be doing my thing as normal.

“If I think back to being young, I was captaining youth teams and district teams.

“I’m always that guy. I’m a big talker in terms of on and off the pitch and I think it does come more naturally to me than it does others.

“There are different ways of doing it. You can have a captain on the pitch who is the main man and making things tick or you get a vocal captain who is able to help others get through games and with situations off the pitch.”

Commenting on Bird’s appointment, he added: “I think it is a great decision because he’s always been the young lads’ captain. He’s similar to me where he organises everything. Birdy is aged well beyond his years.

“He’s a very smart kid, he’s very thoughtful in everything he does and when it comes to the young lads, Birdy has been there since he was 16 years old so they all lean towards him anyway.

“I think it’s a big thing for him in terms of officially having that stature. If there are any games that I miss, hopefully not, he will take the armband, wear it with pride and have that responsibility that he knows comes with it.”