Dat guy Danny Welbeck “a top player and a top person”

INJURY has undoubtedly caused Danny Welbeck to miss more games of football than he would have wished but the game is full of admirers for the longevity of his career.

As Gabby Logan said on Match of the Day, like a good wine, Welbeck seems to be getting better with age. He has scored more Premier League goals per game in his thirties than he did in his twenties or teens.

His 10 Premier League goals for Brighton last season was his best goalscoring campaign in the top flight and in the autumn of 2025 he has already scored two goals apiece against Newcastle and Chelsea, opponents competing in the Champions League.

“I have the passion and love for football,” he told Match of the Day after scoring the pair against Newcastle. “It’s what I want to do. I feel good. I feel strong and fit so I won’t be stopping soon.”

And as BBC Sport reporter Ciaran Kelly pointed out, Welbeck has the knack of scoring crucial goals for the Seagulls: 11 of his last 12 Premier League goals for Brighton have either put the side ahead (eight) or drawn the game level (three).

Welbeck has now played more matches for Brighton than Manchester United, the club he joined aged eight and where he spent 15 years, rising from the club’s academy, making his way through the junior sides and going on to play 142 first team games (90 starts + 52 as sub) between 2008 and 2014.

The 29 goals he scored along the way played a big part in him earning selection for the England national team for whom he collected 42 caps between 2011 and 2018 having also won 42 caps across the various junior England levels. Welbeck netted 16 times for the full England side.

That there have been calls in certain spheres for United to try to take him back to Old Trafford as he approaches his 35^th birthday are a mark of the man and the quality he still exudes.

Striker-turned-pundit Tony Cascarino even urged Thomas Tuchel to recall him for England as back-up for Harry Kane. He told talkSPORT: “Welbeck contributes in various ways beyond scoring. His goal tally isn’t huge, but it’s a decent level and, above all, he is an excellent team player.

“I’ve never seen anyone speak ill of his attitude or professionalism. He is truly an exemplary veteran,”

Cascarino added: “Poland still uses superstars like Robert Lewandowski. If a team needs a veteran, I think there’s absolutely no problem calling Welbeck back,”

Graham Potter was in charge when Welbeck arrived at the Albion in October 2020 on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract.

*Welbeck scores for Albion at Old Trafford*

Potter moved on but in October 2024 he couldn’t speak highly enough of what the player had brought to the Seagulls, in particular as an influence on others.

“Somebody like Danny is a role model. He can teach you how to act, how to be, how to condition yourself and how to interact with your team-mates at the highest level,” said Potter, speaking on BBC Sounds’ Planet Premier League podcast.

“He is a top player and a top person. Credit to the club – they didn’t just recognise that it is about signing young players, it is also about understanding what older players can do for the environment and for the collective.

“To have someone [in your squad] that has been there and done it, and can just handle it well, I think is priceless as a coach.

“If you see what Danny has had to go through, I think he is also a resilient character. He is a good human being, so he doesn’t get carried away too much with the nonsense of football.”

Potter’s successor Roberto De Zerbi was equally effusive. “Great player, great guy,” said the Italian. Speaking in April 2024, when his own Albion future was in doubt, he said of Welbeck: “We have to keep him for a lot of years. He is playing very well and he is important for the young players, for the dressing room.”

A couple of months earlier in the season, De Zerbi’s assistant, Andrea Maldera, told Andy Naylor of The Athletic: “Danny is one of the best teachers on the pitch.

“He is always positive and he is not only a teacher on the pitch. He can speak with a young player when he is eating with them or when he is on the bus.

“He always gives a lot of advice to everybody. He is a big teacher, he has the soul of a teacher. I don’t know what he wants to do in the future in his life, but he is always very clear-minded. On the pitch, it is the same. He doesn’t speak a lot, but he’ll go close to the players, sometimes work a little with them on the training ground.”

Welbeck himself appreciated the influences of more experienced players in his own early days and told BBC Sport’s Simon Stone: “At Manchester United there were lots of players to guide me and give me advice. It meant a lot back then hearing that sort of stuff, listening to people who had been through certain situations and different experiences, who have a lot of knowledge in the game.

“I am always happy to help with the other players. It is pretty easy for them to come and talk to me. It’s nice to pass on a bit of knowledge and experience.”

Born in the Longsight suburb of Manchester on 26 November 1990, Welbeck’s first games of football were played with his older brothers Wayne and Chris when he was just four or five.

Wes Brown, who was already on United’s books, and his brothers lived nearby and the young Welbeck was inspired to follow in Brown’s footsteps.

He actually had a trial for City when he was eight but they didn’t have an age group side for him. It was while he was playing for local side Fletcher Moss Rangers that United seized the opportunity to offer him a two-week trial, and he didn’t look back.

After progressing though the academy schoolboy squads, he made his debut for the youth team in December 2006, debuted for the reserves the following October and was United Young Player of the Year for the 2007-08 season, going on to sign as a professional in July 2008.

Three months later, Sir Alex Ferguson gave him his first team debut, starting up front alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at home to Middlesbrough in the third round of the League Cup, when United won 3-1.

In November, he went on as a substitute to make his Premier League debut and scored United’s fourth goal in a 5-0 thumping of Stoke City, unleashing a swerving shot from 30 yards.

Welbeck was winning his first significant medal before that season was over after he had started for United in the League Cup final, when they beat Tottenham on penalties at Wembley (although Welbeck had been subbed off 10 minutes into the second half, the BBC match report noting “youngster Welbeck was having a tough time making an impact in the face of the physical presence of Dawson and King”).

He scored twice in eight matches on loan to Preston North End in 2010 and then spent the 2010-11 season on loan to Sunderland, scoring six in 28 matches (23 starts plus five as sub) for ex-United skipper Steve Bruce’s Premier League side.

“He has always had ability but made slow progress because he had a bit of a knee growth problem, so we knew we had to wait for him,” said Ferguson in August 2011. “We put him on loan to Sunderland last season and that is when he became a man. He has grown up.”

Dat Guy (Mancunian slang for The Man), the nickname given to him by former United teammate Ravel Morrison, was part of the 2012-13 Premier League title-winning squad (23 starts plus 17 as sub) which turned out to be Ferguson’s last in the hotseat.

He scored 10 in 24 starts plus 12 as sub under David Moyes, but Dutchman Louis van Gaal preferred to bring in Colombian striker Radamel Falcao and, after only three games at the start of the 2014-15 season, Welbeck was sold to Arsenal for £16m (Ferguson putting in a good word with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger).

Plenty of iconic United names, such as Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Bryan Robson, voiced their disapproval of the decision and former coach Rene Meulensteen was adamant Ferguson wouldn’t have sold him if he’d still been in charge.

Meulensteen told talkSPORT: “We were always keen on bringing young players through and giving them a chance. I had him from when he was 8, 9 years of age and I think the best of Danny is yet to come.

“He is a very versatile player and I’m 100 per cent sure he will do very, very well for Arsenal. Danny is a perfect match for Arsenal. He is such a versatile player.

“He is very good in short, creative, combination play, showing for the ball, passing and moving, picking up different positions. At the same time, he has the pace and power to break away if they break from their own half.”

Robson said: “He came through the ranks, he has a great attitude, he’s a great lad.” And Wayne Rooney told The Mirror: “Danny’s great to play alongside. If I’m completely honest, I’d probably like to still see him here, playing for Manchester United.”

Saying United let him go too quickly, Gary Neville added: “He’s actually perfect for how Manchester United should play. Threatening space in behind, playing off front players. This idea that he’s not good enough for Manchester United is absolutely rubbish.”

In a January 2025 interview with the Manchester Evening News, Welbeck remembered: “At the time I was playing on the left-wing a lot and in a 4-4-2, which is very difficult for me because I can’t make an impact on the game.

“I can play it to the best of my ability but that’s not best for the team, and I could make a bigger impact playing in my preferred position.

“You start to have thoughts but at that time you’re still going to training and I was still giving 100 per cent and giving my all in every single game – that’s just me, I’m not going to change that. But you do start to think about what’s best for you.”

Apart from anything else, Welbeck was an established member of the England set-up by then.

He had been on loan at Sunderland when he was first called up to the England senior squad (following the withdrawal of Aaron Lennon) only days after scoring for England Under-21s in a win over Denmark.

Ironically, the opponents at Wembley on 29 March 2011 were Ghana – the country his parents came from – and Fabio Capello sent him on in the 81^st minute as a sub for Ashley Young. The game ended 1-1.

He ultimately featured under four different England managers (albeit Stuart Pearce only managed one game) with the majority (29) under Roy Hodgson. His final England game was as a sub for Trent Alexander-Arnold at the 2018 World Cup in a 1-0 defeat to Belgium.

When Welbeck suffered a badly broken night ankle in a Europa League match for Arsenal in November 2018, and was forced to withdraw from the England squad, Gareth Southgate revealed how the squad showed their strong bond with him by placing his photo on a TV they were watching ahead of a Nations League match.

And after he’d left Arsenal in the summer of 2019, but was still recovering from the ankle injury, the FA helped his comeback by allowing him to use all of the facilities he needed at the St George’s Park national centre.

*Welbeck nets in the FA Cup against Newcastle*

Another illustration of the enduring relationships Welbeck has built during his career came after he’d scored an extra-time winner for Brighton at St James’ Park in March 2025 to book an FA Cup quarter-final against Nottingham Forest.

Ferguson phoned the player after the game, and Welbeck told BBC Football Focus: “He talked about the goal and the performance. He was buzzing and to have that sort of connection, he is a manager who is always looking out for his players, always wants the best for them, and still to this day is in contact.”

At Arsenal, Welbeck played under another great manager and he told the programme: “Sir Alex Ferguson got success in his own way, Arsene Wenger had success in his way. There’s different ways to reach success. Those two managers played a huge part in my life, not just my career.”

• More about Welbeck’s time at Arsenal in my next blog post.

The Liddle and large story of Dan Burn’s football rescue

WHEN Albion beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 to win promotion to the Premier League in April 2017, few Brighton supporters were paying much attention to the tall defender lining up for the opposition.

“There was a party atmosphere around the place, with the players and everyone on the pitch – so it was a great time for Brighton, but not such a great time for us as Wigan players,” recalled 6’6” Dan Burn. “We were all but relegated to League One, which was a low point in my career.”

By the time he next stepped out at the Amex, in January 2019, he was wearing Albion’s colours, and making his debut in a 0-0 stalemate v West Brom in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Signed on a four-year contract towards the end of the Chris Hughton era, to say Burn’s Albion career had a slow start would be an understatement. He joined the Seagulls on August deadline day in 2018, but was immediately loaned back to the Latics while also nursing a foot injury.

He told the Albion matchday programme: “I’m buzzing to get another crack at the Premier League but I know it won’t be easy. The competition within the squad is very good in my position.

“I’m under no illusions that it’s going to be a very tough ask but, when I do get a chance, I’ve got to show what I can do.”

Hughton, a former Newcastle United boss when Burn was a season ticket holder at St James’s Park, said: “Dan has a wealth of experience from his time with Fulham, Birmingham City and Wigan, amongst others.

“He’s an imposing figure and had an excellent season helping Wigan to the League One championship. He also impressed in an excellent FA Cup run to last season’s quarter-finals.”

Once recovered from his foot injury, Burn played 13 games, plus once as a sub, for Paul Cook’s Latics before arriving at Falmer in January.

He managed just three FA Cup games under Hughton, but his fortunes changed dramatically with the arrival of Graham Potter, initially slotting in on the left of Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk in a back three, and later showing versatility and no little ability on the ball as a left-back or left wing back.

“Graham had a meeting with the lads, sat us down and told us the past was past and we just had to go out and prove we could play.

“I’m a good trainer; I train as I play and so always felt I had a chance. I also learn best when I’m out of my comfort zone. Playing left of three or left-back or left wing back, I’ve proved a lot of people wrong, which is what I like to do.”

Burn’s Albion Premier League debut came in the impressive 3-0 away win at Watford that opened the 2019-20 season, and, after Albion supporters had voiced their approval, Burn told the matchday programme: “It’s nice to be appreciated by our fans who are tremendous both home and away and for me to prove to people that I can play at this level.”

It was certainly a special occasion for Burn when Albion travelled to St James’s Park on 14 September 2019. He admitted: “Even coming out the tunnel and listening to Local Hero being belted out of the speakers was emotional for me. As a season-ticket holder for years, I could see my old seat.

“All my family were there, dotted around the stadium, people I used to go to school with, parents of friends. On the day I just had to focus solely on the game and then afterwards I could relax a little bit and go up to see my family.”

Burn was born in Blyth, the seaside town 13 miles north of Newcastle, on 9 May 1992. Because his dad was an ardent Newcastle fan, his son was quickly enrolled as a supporter and, having begun playing football with some pals when he was six or seven, he admitted: “Once I started going with him and watching games I never looked back. I was always out on the back field playing football or playing at school.

“Around 99 per cent of people in Blyth supported Newcastle. Everyone dreamed of playing for Newcastle.”

The dream looked like it might become a reality when he was just nine. While playing for the junior side of Blyth Spartans, he was scouted by Newcastle and invited to join their development centre.

“You have the Academy, where the best players went, and the development centre would run alongside that, where you would train Fridays, and they kept an eye on the players’ progress,” Burn recalled in a matchday programme interview.

“It wasn’t that great to be honest. While I was a good footballer when I joined them, as the two or three years went on, I declined quite rapidly. My body shot up, and I didn’t really catch up with myself football-wise until I was 15 or 16.”

He left the Toon at 11 and reflected: “It wasn’t a particularly good experience being let go by the club you support, with the realisation setting in that you’re probably not good enough to play at that level. I got released around Christmas time too, and it knocked my confidence.”

His chance of making it in the game wasn’t lost, though. He played for Blyth Town and Blyth Spartans, as well as New Hartley Juniors, and was spotted by a scout working for an organisation which selected players who weren’t associated with professional clubs.

Still a sixth former at school, he played for an England representative side against the other home nations and did enough to persuade Darlington’s youth team manager Craig Liddle to invite him for a trial. Burn credits Liddle with giving him the belief he could play at a higher level.

He was given a two-year YTS deal in July 2009 and it certainly beat pushing shopping trolleys for ASDA, which he’d been doing to make a bit of money.

In December 2009, with the League Two club in some trouble, Burn suddenly found himself given a first team chance. At just 17, he made his debut as a first half substitute away to Torquay.

“Although we got beat 5-0, I came off the pitch buzzing,” he recalled. “Here I was, a 17-year-old, and I was playing in League Two. We’d been pumped away from home, facing this horrendous journey home, but I was over the moon when I got back to my car – ridiculous really.”

Unfortunately, Darlo were relegated to the Conference at the end of that season. In January the following season, Burn managed to get a foothold in the side.

His performances caught the eye of Premier League Fulham and a £350,000 fee – a lifeline towards keeping the Quakers going for a little while – took him to London. Somewhat ironically, Burn revealed that Newcastle (at the time managed by Alan Pardew) matched Fulham’s offer “but I’d already been down to Fulham, had a tour of the ground and done my medical, so was happy to sign for them”.

Being 18 at the time, he realised staying in the north-east could have made it difficult to avoid the temptations of nights out with his mates, quite apart from the scrutiny that locals give their local football heroes.

“I would have loved to play for Newcastle but, at that age, at that time in my career, it was the best decision for me to get away from that goldfish bowl where everyone’s analysing what you’re doing,” he reflected. “I just wanted to get away and concentrate solely on my football which was the correct decision.”

Burn spent five years as a Fulham player but with decidedly mixed fortunes, as managers came and went.

He spent most of 2012-13 on loan at Gary Johnson’s Yeovil Town and scored the winner in the 2013 League One play-off final at Wembley when the Glovers beat Brentford 2-1.

“I remember my header going in and losing all control,” he said. “I was running round like a madman!” He added: “For a club like that to be in the Championship was ridiculous but I’ll forever be thankful for Yeovil taking a punt on me.

“I really grew up as a player and learnt what it really meant to be a footballer.”

*Loan spell at Bimingham under Toon legends Lee Clark and Steve Watson*

Although he signed a new two-year contract with Fulham, he then went to Birmingham on loan (playing under Toon ‘legends’ Lee Clark and Steve Watson) for six months before returning to the Cottage in January 2014.

With Rene Meulensteen having succeeded Martin Jol as manager, Burn made his Premier League debut in a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates, and retained his place against the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool.

By then he was 21 and was just enjoying playing but, when relegation saw Meulensteen sacked, in the Championship Burn sometimes found himself not even getting into matchday squads under Slavisa Jokanovic.

“It was such an anti-climax; I’d been on top of the world playing and now it was the complete opposite.” He admitted speaking to a psychologist about the situation to help him through.

He played 35 matches in 2015-16 as Fulham narrowly avoided dropping into League One but was not retained at the end of the season. He made the switch to newly-promoted Wigan Athletic whose manager Gary Caldwell said: “He is a powerful defender, but he likes to play as well.”

The 2016-17 season proved to be bittersweet: the Latics were relegated back to League One, but, according to Paul Kendrick of Wigan Today: “After a shaky start, Burn barely put a foot wrong on a personal level, with a series of highly consistent displays that ensured he was the landslide winner of the Player of the Year award.”

Under new manager Paul Cook, Burn was an ever-present for Wigan throughout the 2017-18 season when they bounced straight back, collecting the League One title with 98 points, two ahead of Blackburn Rovers.

Burn’s performances earned him a place in the PFA’s League One team of the year, and the new season was less than a month old when Albion made their move for him.

Of course, a significant part of Burn’s three years with the club covered the period when Covid prevented fans from attending matches but Burn scored a truly memorable first goal for the club when there was a partial return of supporters.

In front of 8,000 noisy fans at the Amex on 18 May 2021, Burn, in his 60^th match for the club, sealed a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down to secure a 3-2 win for the Seagulls. His 76^th-minute winner came after Leandro Trossard (50^th minute) and Adam Webster (72^nd) had made it 2-2. It was the Seagulls’ first top-flight win over City since 1981.

“That was a real high point for the team and for me personally,” he said.

Burn’s second goal was pretty special too, coming at Goodison Park on 2 January 2022, sandwiched between Alexis Mac Allister’s brace, as Albion beat Everton on their own turf for the first time ever.

It was towards the end of that month’s transfer window that Albion initially rebuffed newly-Saudi-enriched Newcastle’s attempts to sign Burn, but the lure of a return ‘home’ was too great and on deadline day he eventually departed for a fee said to have been £13million.

In an emotional farewell on the club website, he said: “The transfer came as a surprise. I had no desire to leave, but the opportunity to join my hometown club Newcastle United was the only way I would have wanted to leave. While I am excited to begin this new chapter, I am also sad to be ending another.

“Brighton has been a hugely successful period of my career and it’s been a memorable time for me off the pitch. We had my son down here, and I have loved seeing my family grow up as part of the community and living in Brighton & Hove.

“Newcastle were the only club who could have tempted me away. Second to Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion, the city and those associated with the club will always have a special place in my heart.”

When Burn scored his first goal for Newcastle in a 2-0 Carabao Cup quarter final at home to Leicester on 10 January 2023, manager Eddie Howe described it as an “incredible moment”, telling the media: “I am so pleased for him. This is his club and he has come back here and he is savouring every moment.”

The goal came when Burn ran on to Joelinton’s pass, beat two defenders and slotted a shot into the bottom corner.

“I used to sit in the east stand,” he said. “You always want to score in front of the Gallowgate end. To do that in front of my family was amazing.

“I like to get forward and it’s entertaining watching a guy my size running into the box.”

Midfielder Alan Curbishley helped Seagulls to promotion

Screenshot

ALAN Curbishley completed a hat-trick of promotions with new clubs when he was part of Brighton’s successful third tier side in 1988.

He’d previously been promoted after switching from West Ham to Birmingham City and also when moving from Aston Villa to Charlton Athletic.

Curbishley was what you might call West Ham through and through.

Born at Forest Gate on 8 November 1957, within a mile of West Ham station, he was one of five children (elder brother Bill famously promoted and managed The Who and Led Zeppelin and was producer of the films Tommy and Quadrophenia).

Curbishley first played in Brighton at under 11 level, in a Newham Boys side against Brighton Boys at Longhill School, in May 1967. He was later capped for England Boys aged 15 and after joining the Hammers straight from school played for England Youth.

Curbishley won nine England Youth caps under Ken Burton, scoring on his debut in a 1-1 draw against Poland in Las Palmas on 21 January 1975 when England went on to win the Atlantic Cup. Among his teammates were future England captain Bryan Robson, Peter Barnes and Keith Bertschin.

He vied for a starting berth with Mark Nightingale (Palace, Bournemouth, Norwich, Peterborough), making six starts and three appearances off the bench. His last appearance was in a 1-0 win over Wales in Cardiff on 11 February 1976, playing alongside Glenn Hoddle and Gary Owen.

Almost a year earlier, on 29 March 1975, he had made his first team Hammers debut at the tender age of 17, lining up in midfield alongside Trevor Brooking and Graham Paddon in a 1-0 home defeat against Chelsea. Mervyn Day was in goal for West Ham and guarding the opposition net was John Phillips.

At the time, Curbishley was the youngest to play in the senior team although that record was subsequently eclipsed by Paul Allen.

A contemporary of Geoff Pike, Paul Brush and Alvin Martin, they were all in the West Ham youth team defeated 5-1 on aggregate by Ipswich in the 1975 FA Youth Cup Final.

In a midfield dominated by Brooking, Paddon and Pat Holland, and later Alan Devonshire and Pike, Curbishley found first team chances limited, although in 1977-78 he made 36 appearances.

After 85 matches for the Hammers, in 1979 he moved to Birmingham for £275,000. Manager Jim Smith used the proceeds of the £1m transfer of Trevor Francis to Nottingham Forest to buy Curbishley, Frank Worthington, Colin Todd and Archie Gemmill. Curbishley was still only 21 when he made his debut for the Blues on 18 August 1979 in a 4-3 defeat at home to Fulham and he went on to be ever present for Birmingham in that 1979-80 season.

Curbishley earned his one and only England Under 21 cap in a 5-0 thrashing of Switzerland at Portman Road when Justin Fashanu was among the scorers. He had hopes of going to the 1982 World Cup with England, having broken into the England B squad but fractured a kneecap sliding into a tackle with Albion’s Brian Horton. “I missed the rest of the season and the start of the next, and the World Cup squad which I might have broken into otherwise,” he said. “It was the worst disappointment I’ve ever faced.”

He was on the front cover of the matchday programme for a game I went to watch at St Andrew’s on 27 March 1982 when he played for Ron Saunders’ Blues in a 1-0 win over Brighton. But financial issues meant the side was broken up and, the following year, after a total of 155 games, he committed what today seems to be viewed as a cardinal sin by signing for Villa for £100,000, ironically making his debut against Birmingham in a 1-0 win on 4 April 1983.

“I had high hopes of success there with them just having won the European Cup,” he told Dave Beckett in an Albion matchday programme article. “It was soon obvious though that Tony Barton was under pressure from the moment he took over and all the players thought it was just a matter of time before he was sacked.

“He got a raw deal. That season we finished ninth in the league, got to the semis of the League Cup and were knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the last minute on the away goals rule. Villa have never been near that form since, but Tony Barton’s face didn’t fit and he was soon on his way along with all the men he signed.”

After only 36 appearances, scoring once, Curbishley returned to London, dropping back down to the 2^nd division, to begin what would be a long association with Charlton Athletic, punctuated only by his spell at Brighton.

Amazingly, although homeless at the time and playing at Selhurst Park, Charlton won promotion back to the 1^st Division. Unfortunately Curbishley sustained an achilles tendon injury and only played 10 games in the 1986-87 season.

“I knew I had an achilles injury but the operation was delayed until a week before the start of the new season and consequently I wasn’t fit again until December,” he said. “The manager bought two new midfield players, which I understood, but when I was fit again I couldn’t get back into the side.

“It became apparent that I wouldn’t get much of a chance unless something drastic happened so I’m pleased to have a fresh start.”

After 13 seasons playing in the top two divisions, he left Charlton having scored six times in 63 games and dropped down to the Third to join the Albion for £32,500.

He made his debut in a goalless draw at Chesterfield on 22 August 1987 in front of a crowd of just 2,286.

After the departure of Jimmy Case in 1985, the centre of Albion’s midfield had been crying out for someone who could put their foot on the ball and pass it, and Curbishley stepped neatly into that role, scoring six goals – mostly penalties – in 34 appearances as Brighton won promotion.

“Alan was a very level-headed guy, an excellent passer and really disciplined,” Albion boss Barry Lloyd told Spencer Vignes in a matchday programme article.

In total, over three years on the south coast, Curbishley played 127 games (plus five as sub) – making his 400th league appearance during the 1988-89 season – and scored 15 goals.

curbs pen The Albion matchday programme featured Curbishley when the Seagulls hosted the Hammers for a Barclays League Division 2 game on 16 September 1989. Describing his time with the East London club, he said: “It was a brilliant set up although I was definitely a bit headstrong in my early days.

“I didn’t really grow up until I moved to St Andrew’s and that’s where I had my best playing days.”

Lou Macari’s side in 1989 included Curbishley’s old pal Alvin Martin and future Albion manager Liam Brady but the Seagulls ran out 3-0 winners (goals from Kevin Bremner, Robert Codner and Garry Nelson).

In 1990, Curbishley began his coaching career, returning to Charlton initially as player-coach under Lennie Lawrence. When Lawrence left in 1991, Charlton made the somewhat unusual decision to appoint joint managers: Curbishley and Steve Gritt (who would later be at the helm when Albion narrowly escaped dropping out of the league).

Curbishley’s first signings for Charlton were former Albion teammates Nelson and Steve Gatting and he later plundered young winger John Robinson from the Seagulls. After four years, Curbishley took sole charge at The Valley and led Charlton to some of the most successful times in their history.

Considering their resources, Curbishley turned Charlton into a steady top flight club and model of stability, consistently securing a mid-table finish.

Sean Cole in The Bleacher Report described him as “one of the most promising managerial talents of the new millennium” and in 2006, in the wake of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s departure as England manager, Curbs had ‘tea and biscuits’ with then chief executive Brian Barwick – but Steve McLaren got the job instead.

In December 2006, Curbishley landed what surely would have been considered his dream job – manager of West Ham.

It was quite a reunion of old pals when Brighton visited Upton Park for one of his first games in charge, in the third round of the FA Cup in January 2007. Albion boss Dean Wilkins and coach Ian Chapman had both been teammates while physiotherapist Malcolm Stuart was still wielding the magic spray.

In front of 32,874, Hammers ran out fairly comfortable 3-0 winners with Mark Noble scoring his first senior West Ham goal and Carlos Tevez a real handful up front. These were the respective line-ups:

West Ham: Carroll, Dailly, Ferdinand (Spector 45), Gabbidon, McCartney, Benayoun, Mullins, Noble, Boa Morte (Newton 73), Cole (Bobby Zamora 68), Tevez.
Subs not used: Green, Sheringham. Goals: Noble 49, Cole 58, Mullins 90.

Brighton: Wayne Henderson, Joe O’Cearuill, Joel Lynch, Guy Butters, Kerry Mayo, Tommy Fraser (Gary Hart 51), Adam El-Abd, Dean Hammond, Alexandre Frutos (Sam Rents 67), Alex Revell (Joe Gatting 84), Jake Robinson. Subs not used: Michel Kuipers, Richard Carpenter.

Fans’ website westhamtillidie recalled: “Perhaps Curbs’ greatest legacy at the club was the £7m signing of his former Charlton protégé Scott Parker, who went on to win the Hammer of the Year prize three times and pick up a Football Writers’ Player of the Year Award during his time at the club.”

Sadly, though it was to all end in tears and Curbishley quit in protest at the then Icelandic owners’ failure to consult him over the sale of defenders Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney.

In what must have been a tough heart-v-head decision, he resorted to a legal resolution of the situation and eventually won a case for constructive dismissal, eventually receiving £2.2m in compensation. But it was the last manager’s job he had.

“It took me a year to sort out my problem at West Ham,” he told The Independent. “And then, after that, I was perhaps a little too picky. I was told by other senior managers ‘don’t be out too long’ but I was waiting for a job that I thought was the job for me.”

Job vacancies came and went, Curbishley’s name was generally on all the shortlists, but he never again made it through to the manager’s chair. There was a brief moment at Fulham when he was technical director assisting Rene Meulensteen but when Meulensteen was swiftly axed, new manager Felix Magath brought in his own people.

He rejoined the Fulham coaching staff in March 2015 and took charge of training in November 2015 when Kit Symons was relieved of his managerial duties but Stuart Gray took charge of the team before Slavisa Jokanovic was appointed.

In 2016, Curbishley brought out a book, Game Changers: Inside English Football: From the Boardroom to the Bootroom (published by HarperSport) and was a regular pundit on the Football on 5 programme covering Football League games.