The captain of Colchester United's glorious FA Cup squad of 1948 and former manager of Halstead Town has died.

Bob Curry, died at his home in Halstead on Saturday. He was 82.

He was born in Gateshead, County Durham, and upon leaving school was signed by Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.

But a football career had to wait while Bob served his country in the Second World War.

He saw active service at Dunkirk where he received wounds which kept him away from football for two years.

Returning to football he went back to Sheffield Wednesday and after a brief spell at Gainsborough Trinity, he came to Colchester United.

At Layer Road, Bob became team captain and a fans' favourite.

His most notable achievement was leading the club - at this time a non-league team playing in the Southern League - to the fifth round of the FA Cup in the season 1947-48.

They beat league teams such as Wrexham, Bradford and First Division side Huddersfield, before being knocked out by a star-studded Blackpool side that included Stanley Matthews.

Bob scored in every round of this famous cup run and was also the captain who oversaw Colchester United's election to the Football League in 1950.

After Colchester United, he played for Clacton Town and Halstead Town where he later took on the role of manager.

He became landlord of the Nags Head pub in New Street, Halstead, and later stayed in the town living in Whitehorse Lane.

Bob is survived by three children Bob, Patricia and Philip and seven grandchildren including professional golfer Paul Curry.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at Colchester Crematorium at 12.30pm.

Mr Curry's family have asked for no flowers but donations to Save the Children through Sudbury Co-op funeral service on 01787 372736.

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