In the club's 1927 FA Cup victory, he became the youngest player to appear in a final in the competition's history as Cardiff defeated Arsenal, remaining the only team from outside England to win the trophy.
During World War II, Curtis served in the 77th Division of the 2nd Welsh Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, but was captured in Java in 1941.
Billy Thirlaway, who had covered Curtis' absence in the league, was also ruled out as he was cup-tied for the game having played in the earlier rounds of the competition for his former club.
[2] [5] The following year, Curtis began the season in the first team and also played in Cardiff's 1927 FA Charity Shield victory over amateur side Corinthians on 12 October 1927.
[8] His transfer was completed in time for him to make his debut for the club in a 4–1 victory over Sheffield United on 12 March, and the Athletic News reported that he "fitted into the side perfectly, and was responsible for some really clever touches".
[9] His first full season with the club, the 1928–29 campaign, was disrupted by injury problems; he was stretchered off with a knee issue during a match against Newcastle United on 17 November 1928 that required the attention of a specialist.
[11] In September 1929, Birmingham had taken a 3–1 lead away to Blackburn Rovers when their goalkeeper, Harry Hibbs, fell over an opposing forward, injured his back, and with his movement severely impaired, conceded three goals in the last ten minutes of the first half.
[12][13] With Birmingham near the bottom of the league table, Curtis withdrew from international selection in favour of playing for his club in the home match against Blackburn Rovers on 1 February 1930.
[26] Curtis featured in 19 consecutive matches in all competitions following his return, scoring 7 times, and took up the captaincy of the squad after Tom Maidment stepped down from the role.
[28] Curtis remained contracted to Cardiff until 1935 but did not feature in a senior fixture after March 1934 and even returned to Birmingham where he began running a pub.
[29] His form gradually improved as he returned to fitness and, in the 1935–36 season, he scored an equalising goal against Torquay United from the penalty spot in the final match of the campaign.
The club's promotion led to Curtis being primarily a reserve team player the following year, during which time he played numerous roles in defence, midfield and attack.
[1] However, following his move to Birmingham, Curtis rarely featured for the national side after the club frequently refused to release him for international duty.
Their unit was posted to the Far East, where they were captured by Japanese forces in Java in 1941 and spent the duration of the war in a prisoner-of-war camp before being released in September 1945.
[36][37] During his time in the camp, Curtis taught Japanese officers how to play football with a ball made out of paper in order to obtain food.