Tributes for Curry

STEVE CURRY, former Daily Express chief football writer, died yesterday aged 76.

An unashamed Manchester United fan, Curry began his career at the Blackburn Times and went to the Lancashire Evening Post before moving to their London office and beginning a stellar career on Fleet Street.

He joined the Express in time to report on England’s World Cup win in 1966 and became chief football writer in 1982. In 1998, while working for the Sunday Telegraph, he was named sports news reporter of the year.

David Emery, who worked alongside Curry, below, before himself becoming sports editor, said: “There were a few young lads who went on to have significant roles in the paper and there was a great feeling of camaraderie.

“Steve pulled some big stories and had some great contacts.”

Curry leaves wife, Carol, and son Michael.

But the Chelsea manager insists he has “no fears” and is confident he will arrive safely at his destination.

A week that saw the unexpected sale of David Luiz, a 4-0 Premier League drubbing at Old Trafford and now tonight’s UEFA Super Cup against Liverpool is the sort of hurtling thrill-ride many come to Istanbul to enjoy.

But they head to nearby theme park Vialand, which boasts a 164ft-tall track upon which carts travel at speeds up to 68mph on a ride called the Nefeskesen.

The word is Turkish for breath-taker – something Lampard had little time to do as he prepared his side to try to bounce back from their opening league defeat.

“This week is a good example of that rollercoaster – but I had a year at Derby last season where I had similar roller-coasters,” Lampard said.

“That comes with managers’ jobs, particularly at clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City – all the bigger teams. I’m very prepared for that. It has been a week where a lot has happened – but I certainly don’t fear that. Let’s see what the rollercoaster brings.”

There is no doubt that the whole club suffered a nervejangling descent at Old Trafford and the Super Cup final will be measure of how some of Chelsea’s younger players can cope.

Turn the corner, of course, and it is a chance for Lampard to lift his first silverware as a manager – and lay to bed the demons of two Super Cup defeats as a player against Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich,

DUNN