Curtis Signs On

ARGYLE defender Curtis Nelson has put pen to paper on a new deal to stay at Home Park.

The popular centre-back, who made 52 appearance for the Pilgrims in the 2013-14 season, was out of contract in the summer, but has now penned a deal to remain an Argyle player for another two years.

"I’m happy to have signed again," said Curtis. "I’m looking forward to the challenge. Football is a cutthroat sport. You can be in contract one moment and out of it the next. You’ve got to be grateful for the contract, work hard at keeping it and being in the manager’s mind for next season – obviously that’s what I have done.

"It’s a really good club. I enjoy myself here; I’m settled. It’s a nice place to live.

(The manager) is a really honest guy. He knows what he wants us to do and he drives us every day in training. He has his ways, which have paid this year, and with the right squad we’ll get going again."

Curtis, who will turn 21 later this month, has already made 143 appearances for Argyle, including several as captain in the absence of Conor Hourihane. He joined the club as an apprentice in 2009 after being released by his hometown club, Stoke City.

He made his debut aged just 17 in a League Cup tie against Notts County, and then made his league bow, against the same team, two months later. He would go on to make 38 appearances in his first season, playing either in central midfield, centre-back or at right-back.

It was not until his third season that he notched his first Argyle goal - and it came as a substitute, making a cameo up front - against Northampton Town. He has since scored four other goals, but it is at the other end, with his ability to read the game and calm demeanour, where he has really shone, to much acclaim from the Green Army, as well as team-mates and his manager.

Curtis was named as Argyle's Young Player of the Year for this season - and garnered a fair few votes in the race to be overall Player of the Year, too.

Having been with Argyle since the dark days of administration, Nelson is understandably as keen as anyone to put those days behind him and look to being part of Argyle's, hopefully upwardly mobile, future.

He said: "I do think about that. We have been through some tough times. Looking forward, we are going to be going up the leagues – that’s the aim of everyone at the club.
I’m happy to have played so many games. It is an aim every season to stay injury free and play as many games as you can.

"Promotion is the main goal. Get out of this league – and when we are in League One, get out of that league. And keep on going.

"It’s going to be a good two years."

His re-signing comes as another boost to manager John Sheridan, who recently was buoyed by goalkeeper Luke McCormick's decision to also extend his stay at Argyle beyond next season.