A SPORTS coach who has mentored thousands of children over four decades has bid a sad farewell to a Mossley primary school.
Jeff Curtis has retired from his role as caretaker at St Joseph’s – but he has not left the basketball court just yet!
Jeff described finding the job as custodian of the Market Street school as “the best thing of his life” – aside from getting married and having children, of course!
“It’s been the best job ever,” he stated, when sitting down to reflect on his career with the Correspondent.
“It beats coaching and everything I’ve done in the past. You could say I’m a workaholic, which has been my problem, but it doesn’t feel like work.
“The teachers, the head teacher, everyone has just been so lovely. I came just at the right time and it’s been great. I’ve got so many happy memories.
“I didn’t want to go but my wife persuaded me to take my pension, take the time off and live my life.”
However, Jeff’s involvement at the school stretches back almost to the day that it first opened.
“Originally I was here 20 years ago as their coach through Active Tameside, which I did for five years,” he explained. “The school was in a scheme with Active for 12 months but then opted out of it at the time because they had a teacher here – also called Mr Curtis – who took over doing PE.
“I’ve been caretaker for six years and I’ve now been the PE coach for 10 years, as I got it all back. But I’ve been involved with the school, on and off, for around 36 years in total – almost from day one.”
On the sporting front, Jeff – who is originally from Moss Side but now lives in Stalybridge – first took an interest in basketball aged 11.
He went on to represent England – a feat his daughter Jamie went on to replicate – and played professionally for Manchester Giants for two years when he was 18 but, five years later, he was involved in a hit-and-run which abruptly ended his playing career.
But not allowing that setback to deter him, Jeff wanted to inspire future generations and still coaches at the same Copley Basketball Club he established 40 years ago – which has around 200 members in total, children from the age of four to 16 years old.
Jeff was a full-time coach for around 10 years at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Primary School in Ashton-under-Lyne, where his impact reached far beyond the playground.
Raising the profile of sport and physical activity, he delivered high-quality PE lessons from nursery to Year 6 pupils as well as extra-curricular activities at breakfast, lunch and after school – which were always full.
Following its inception, Jeff later worked as a sports coach for around 17 years at Active Tameside and every night of his week would be spent on the basketball court teaching children.
But nowadays, he limits it to just Friday evenings at Active Copley.
Explaining how he first got involved with Active Tameside, Jeff said: “Teachers were struggling with PE and coaching. They went to college and learned it but carrying it on is quite hard. With me being a basketball coach, it was quite easy for me.
“They employed people who offered football or a bit of rugby or a bit of hockey but nobody did basketball. I was the only person in Tameside who set up a basketball club, going back 40 years ago.”
In his role, Jeff worked in the ‘Mossley Cluster’ schools – spending one day a week in each of the town’s primary schools.
He created opportunities for regular inter-school competitions and went one step further – starting an annual Mossley Olympics, which created a real buzz in the community.
Jeff also delivered holiday camps during the school holidays – mainly at Copley – where attendances were always high and he put together his own games and activities.
“His knowledge across all sports was second to none,” commented Gavin Browne, Head of Active Education at Active Tameside.
“Jeff’s passion and enthusiasm for PE and sport is phenomenal, and this always transferred onto the children. He is a huge role model and acted as a mentor for other sports coaches where he would generously pass on his knowledge and advice to allow them to develop.
“Have a very happy retirement and thanks for the memories Jeff!”