Curtis, or Tommy to his mates, was a Gateshead lad who started his career with United in the 1914-15 season, only for his professional career to be interrupted by the First World War. Curtis enlisted with the British Army in the Durham Light Infantry and saw action in the Somme.

Whilst he was wounded in 1918 it would not stop his return to football and he returned to Newcastle to play 15 games in 1919-20 before being loaned to Leeds and eventually a permanent move to Norwich City.

He would go on to coach in a number of countries.