JAMIE CURETON

On the verge of his 46th birthday, the ex- Norwich striker is still going strong as player- boss of Enfield – almost three decades after turning down Fergie

You’re among a handful of players – alongside the likes of Peter Shilton and Roberto Carlos – to have racked up more than 1,000 games. Are you glad to be in that sort of company?

I never expected to play this long – 35 was always the retirement age when I was coming through. My aim was to have some fun, earn a decent living and enjoy my career. It wasn’t until my early 30s that I realised I didn’t want to stop so soon. I still had the hunger, and decided that I’d just move down the leagues and even play non- league football if the opportunity came along. It was only as my 1,000th appearance approached [ for Bishop’s Stortford in April 2019] that I first thought about the milestone. Once I passed it, I took stock of the company I was in. It was a really proud moment.

You became player- boss of Enfield in the Essex Senior League last year – how challenging has this curtailed campaign been?

It’s obviously been disappointing. Last season I was at Bishop’s Stortford, then Hornchurch where we were going for promotion, so for the campaign to just finish with not many matches left was tough to take. This season at Enfield, it hasn’t been as bad – we want to build something and that requires time. The situation has given us the opportunity to prepare for next year, so we’re trying to make the most of a difficult period.

You’ll turn 46 this summer – are you planning to play next season?

I’ll definitely be putting myself down as a player again, but whether I’m one of the first- team regulars or take a step back, we’ll have to wait and see. If we have cup matches or injuries, or I’m in form and believe I can help the team, I’ll play. The reason is simple: I just love playing football. If I wasn’t at this level, I’d find a pub team or even five- a- side. I still get the same buzz I always did.

Player- managers used to be all the rage, but are rarer now. How does it work? Are you mulling substitutions and tactics while going one- on- one with the goalkeeper?!

[ Laughs] No... If I’m playing, I get my tactical stuff done before kick- off and that’s it; I hand everything over to my assistant and focus on my own game. If there’s a break in play I might chat to my staff, but unless there’s anything drastic I leave them to it. At half- time,

I try to detach myself from the game. It’s hard not to let the emotions affect you, so I usually let my No. 2 speak first and then compose myself before I say my bit. You need to know when to talk as a player and when to as a manager.

Early in your career, you reportedly turned down Manchester United. Did you speak to Sir Alex Ferguson?

I was 15 and set to sign apprenticeship forms with Norwich when United made me an offer. I’d had trials there earlier that year and played in youth games for them – they handed me a two- year apprenticeship followed by a two- year pro contract. I’d been offered the same thing by Norwich and had a decision to make. I opted to stay at Norwich, as I’d been there for a year or two already – I felt at home. United were starting to spend a bit of money and I thought I’d have a clearer path to the first team at Norwich, who were a top- three side in England at the time. A few days later, the phone rang and it was Sir Alex. He asked my dad why I made that choice and if I’d change my mind, but I stuck to my guns. I’m a United fan and my age group was the Class of ’ 92. I would have been in it, and they didn’t actually produce a centre- forward out of that crop – it could have been me! You do wonder where your career might have

“THE CLASS OF ’ 92 DID NOT ACTUALLY PRODUCE A CENTRE- FORWARD. IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME!”

gone – I don’t have regrets, but I think about it. I wouldn’t have played 1,000 games had I joined United, but I might have played for England. Although I’ve had a fabulous career, if you took me back and put me in the same situation, I think I’d probably opt to join United.

You’re a well travelled player, having featured for hometown team Bristol Rovers and even a club from South Korea. Do you find it easy to up sticks and move around so often?

It’s a bit strange. My ex- partner stayed in Bristol while I moved around early in my career, and we split up when I went to Asia. I met my wife when I got back. She’s stayed in Essex while I’ve drifted around, and we’ve spent a lot of time apart. It can be difficult, but time away can also be a positive thing for couples. She’s been so supportive along the way and never asked me to choose a club based on how local they are. I maybe would have liked to stay with the same team for 10 years, but football can be like that sometimes.

You later said moving to the Far East was a mistake. What happened?

My contract was ending at Reading and I had a decision to make. There were more offers on the table – I could have stayed or even signed for DC United in the US – but I felt South Korea was the right move for me at the time. I left my partner and two kids to go there, and it wasn’t the best decision as I missed my family and English football. South Korea is beautiful and I was very well looked after. The stadiums were some of the greatest I’ve ever played in, as it wasn’t long after they hosted the 2002 World Cup. But the distance back home was hard – I was 28, and you’d usually expect to make a move like that later in your career.

You’re only just getting started in the dugout, so what are your hopes and dreams for this part of your career?

To be honest, it was never really on the agenda originally. I thought I’d get into the media once my career finished, but then I kept playing and maybe missed my chance as others retired and took those jobs. I started to coach instead, and did three years part- time at the Arsenal academy. I enjoyed it, but felt I could offer older players a little more. I was also still playing non- league, and the opportunity to be player- manager at Bishop’s Stortford presented itself. That’s where it all began. My dream is simply to help Enfield progress, move up the leagues if we can and see what happens. I haven’t mapped out a plan.

Maybe, if it all goes well, you could take Sir Alex up on a different offer?

[ Laughs] I definitely wouldn’t turn that one down, let me tell you!