KOLKATA in India may not be the first place that springs to mind for a footballing moment that will go down in both English and Cumbrian history.

But it is where Barrow-born goalkeeper Curtis Anderson not only claimed a World Cup winners’ medal with England Under-17s – he even hit the back of the net himself.

The class of 2017 became the first English winners of the Under-17s trophy, beating Spain 5-2 in the final. Anderson was hailed as the squad’s hero when they booked their place in the quarter-finals as he made some impressive penalty saves, then stepped up to score himself in their shootout win over Japan.

Members of the Anderson family, including Curtis’s mother and father, travelled to India to enjoy the celebrations. Curtis said: “It was uncanny really. My parents were among the 66,000 crowd, but I still managed to pick them out.

“I still can’t take it in – we have won the World Cup for England!”

Raised in Holbeck, Anderson started playing football at the age of seven for Crooklands Casuals when he was a pupil at Yarlside Primary School. His father Terry was the manager at the time.

“My dad thought I was one of the best outfield players, until we were winning, and then he put me in goals to keep hold of the lead,” said Curtis.

Now playing for Manchester City, with a self-confessed ambition to win the Premier League, Curtis said he owes a lot to the dedication of his family. He credits his father with his success, but says his granddad started the family’s football craze.

“When I was at Crooklands, Blackpool signed me at the age of eight,” added Curtis. “To reduce travelling, my mum, dad, brother and sister all moved to Preston with me.

“This was really important, as when I turned 11, Premier League clubs could sign players within a certain catchment area. Preston is within the area for Manchester, whereas Barrow isn’t, so this allowed City to sign me.

“I moved to Manchester, and my family all moved back up to Ulverston.

“I don’t really get back to Cumbria much, as I am on a full-time contract with City, but I do try to get back once every six weeks for the weekend.”

Curtis says his World Cup tour was fantastic. The squad spent 34 days in India and visited the likes of Mumbai and Goa before that all-important final against Spain.

He added: “We knew we were going into it with confidence as we knew their game inside out from previous encounters.”

Seventeen-year-old Curtis is now settled in Manchester, with his typical working week made up of two hours of lessons on four days, while on Wednesdays, he is at college doing a BTEC qualification in sport.

He dreams of not only winning the Premier League, but also of being England’s most-capped goalkeeper, though it is a Spanish legend, Iker Casillas, he aspires to follow, and he has high praise for former City keeper Joe Hart.

He said: “Despite being such a legend, he is a really nice guy, not to mention how ridiculously good he is.”

The World Cup in Moscow will come too soon for this young South Cumbrian, but he could become a name to remember if he has the chance to bring home a winner's medal in years to come.

This feature first appeared in Bay Living magazine. The February/March issue is on sale now.