B/R Exclusive: An Interview with Gillingham and FA Cup Star Curtis Weston

Said to be the next big thing, Curtis Weston's career never really moved forward from the 2004 FA Cup Final.

Weston began his career at Millwall in 2003, and at 17 years and 119 days became the youngest ever FA Cup finalist, when he came on for Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup Final against Premier League giants Manchester United, beating the 125-year old record set by James F M Prinsep.

After spells at Swindon Town and Leeds United—the third club where he had played under Dennis Wise—Curtis played in the Coca Cola League Championship for Scunthorpe United before joining Gillingham at the start of the 2008/'09 season.

At Gillingham FC's Beechings Cross training ground, I managed to interview Curtis Weston, and ask him a few questions about his playing career and of course that FA Cup Final in 2004.

1. How did you first become involved in football?

I used to play for my school team when I was a kid, and then Millwall FC came to watch me and I signed for them when I was 13 years old. I stayed there up until I was 19, and that's how I started out in football.

2. Playing for Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup Final against Manchester United, at 17 years and 119 days, you became the youngest ever FA Cup finalist. How did it feel breaking that record?

Well I didn't actually know that I broke the record until after the game, but it was brilliant to know and the whole experience was just fantastic. So far, it has definitely been the highlight of my career.

3. After that, things didn't go quite so well. What happened?

Yeah, I got released by Millwall at 19, and then I joined Swindon Town who were in the league below. After that I went to Leeds United, and then of course I came here [Gillingham].

Although, it hasn't been all that bad, as I have been playing many games, and for me that is the main thing.

4. You've played under Dennis Wise at three clubs - Millwall, Swindon Town, Leeds United - what is your relationship like with Wise?

I had a very decent one-to-one relationship with Dennis. Obviously he took me to three different clubs and signed me up at those clubs, and even now we still talk to each other a bit. It was really nice to have him help me along in my career.

5. You joined Gillingham back in August 2008, what made you join the club?

When I was at Leeds [United], my agent spoke to me and said that I needed to start getting some football under my belt. Gillingham came up and wanted me on a one month's loan, with a view to a permanent contract, and in the end I just wanted to move there and so I signed on a two-year deal.

6. How do you feel Gillingham, as a club, will progress in the next few years?

Hopefully there'll be this season where we will get promoted from League Two, and then in a few years time we should be back up in the [Football League] Championship. That's where we belong, this [Gillingham FC] is quite a big club and we should be playing Championship football.

7. Lastly, what do you feel are the strengths and weaknesses to your game?

[My strengths are] running with the ball, closing down strikers, and scoring some goals this season hopefully.

[One weakness I have is] definitely my heading, I think I need to improve on that one.

I would like to thank Curtis Weston for agreeing to the interview and taking the time to answer my questions.

I would also like to thank Gillingham Football Club and their media manager Martin Weller for arranging the interview and making all of this possible.

Let's hope Curtis can re-live the glory he achieved at such a young age, and at only 22 years of age, it is still very much possible that he can. Hopefully he can re-live the glory with Gillingham, as they aim for promotion this season from the Coca Cola League Two.