Curtis Jones is proving to be a key figure for Liverpool in the ongoing 24/25 season. Jones has played 23 games for Liverpool this season across all competitions, having racked up 3 goals and 5 assists.
His amazing form for Liverpool handed him his national debut for England when his country played Greece in the UEFA Nations League on November 15th, 2024.
But to truly understand Curtis Jones’ journey to this point, it’s essential to explore the foundation of his success: his upbringing and the role his parents played in shaping him into the player he is today. From his roots in Liverpool’s Toxteth to his rise as a professional footballer, this is the story of where it all began.
Where Did Curtis Jones Grow Up?
Before Curtis Jones graced Liverpool’s first team, he was just a normal scouse kid from Toxteth, a working-class neighborhood in the south of Liverpool. Born on January 30, 2001, Curtis is the youngest of four siblings. Growing up, his life revolved around football, be it under the glow of streetlights or sneaking onto his primary school’s pitch at night. In Toxteth, Jones attended St. Vincent de Paul Primary School in the Liverpool city centre.
Recently in an interview with The Telegraph on September 1 2023, the Liverpool midfielder expressed the authenticity of his scouse origins and location in Toxteth, Liverpool (L1 post-code region) where he grew up by stating,
I always joke with Trent [Alexander-Arnold] that I’m a real Scouser: I’m L1,” Jones says. “That’s the roots of Liverpool. You cannot be any more Liverpool. I’m proud to come from a place like this.
Further, in an exclusive interview with The Independent on January 5, 2020, the English midfielder reminisced about his humble beginnings:
At the top of my street, there’s a primary school. In the evenings, we’d climb over the fence and play on their pitch or take one of the goals and just play in the street all night—we’d always put it back afterwards though,” he laughed. “I grew up the way a lot of Scousers do, just being a street kid, not having the best facilities, and making the most out of everything you can.
Recently, as a mark of respect for similar kids in Toxteth with tough childhoods and surroundings, he made an incredible gesture to his boyhood school, St. Vincent de Paul Primary School, by sponsoring modern sports equipment and facilities in his old school so that the next generation doesn’t go through the same problems as he did while growing up.
Liverpool ECHO, a Liverpool-based media outlet, recently did an interview piece with his childhood school to meet the people who were there at the beginning and who helped him turn into the man he is today.
His assistant teacher revealed Liverpool ECHO the backstory behind Jones’s beautiful gesture by stating,
He was driving past the school and saw the kids kicking footballs into bread crates. He made a call, came in, chatted with the children, and managed to equip the school so the children now have wonderful PE lessons and great facilities.
We’ve kept in touch with him, and he’s come in to support the school financially; he put his hand in his pocket and paid for a whole new cupboard full of sports equipment.
Jones’s school teachers further revealed his humble childhood and the origins of a true superstar by describing his strong mindset and big dreams, which manifested ever since he was a kid, by saying,
All the way back when Curtis was seven, eight, or nine years old, he embodied all of that [dreams, plans, and goals in life]—before I even knew what having a vision was.
He had goals of where he wanted to be in life and what it would take to get there, at a very young age.
One day he came in—he must’ve only been about nine—and he said, ‘Miss! Miss! I need to tell you; I had a dream last night.’ I said: ‘Oh, did you?’ He said: ‘I was playing for Liverpool, then I got selected to play for England and I scored the winning goal at Wembley.’
Later on, when he actually made his England debut in November last year, this decade-old promise of a young determined 9-year-old Scouse boy to make it life, eventually became a reality, and it must be a proud moment for his teachers and the overall Toxteth community.
Further, his teachers spoke about the early signs of his talent and unique skillset as a young sportsperson and child by saying,
Curtis was always a confident lad. He had so much understanding of his ability and knew he would be able to fulfill his dreams. His talent shone through. At the age of five, he already had balance, speed, and agility. He could dribble through everyone on the playground, but he wanted to bring his classmates into the game too. He’d be in year 3 and be playing with the year 6s—and still standing out. He was actually an all-round sportsman; I remember him taking to cricket and basketball. He was just an exceptional sportsman and was really good at everything he turned his hand to.
The school staff and teachers were also quick to heap a lot of praise on Curtis Jones’s leadership side of things as well, suggesting he might be a future captain by stating,
Curtis was very popular and was kind to all of the children. The other children gravitated towards him, but he was never cocky or arrogant with them; he was encompassing and welcoming and a friend to all of them—I can’t think of anyone who ever fell out with him.
Right then. Now that we have covered Jones’s humble beginnings, let us know more about the parents that shaped his career and helped him achieve the goal of becoming a professional footballer.
Who are Curtis Jones’s parents?
Behind every great footballer is a parent who sacrifices everything to help their child chase their dreams. For Curtis Jones, that parent is his mother, Sandra Jones—a true embodiment of a “proper Scouse mom.” Her unwavering support and countless sacrifices, both big and small, became the backbone of Curtis’s journey.
In an exclusive interview with The Independent in January 2020, Curtis reflected on his mother’s sacrifices by stating,
“I remember seeing my mum standing in the freezing cold [to pick me up from training] and having to pay for taxis to get me home and that’s what drives you on. Growing up [in Toxteth] made me the player I am today—confident, brave, knowing where I need to get to. I think a lot of the fans come from a similar background. When I see people from the area, they’re always buzzing for me.”
Sandra’s unwavering support and sacrifices gave Curtis the foundation to pursue his dreams. Even as he thrives on the professional stage, she remains a steady presence, grounding him in his roots and values.
When Telegraph did that first exclusive interview with Jones last year in his L1 post-code area and school in Toxteth, staff from his school who knew Jones, gave more insights about his mother Sandra’s occupation and Curtis’s overall family and his relationship with them by saying,
Outside of football he remains very close to his older brother– there is just 13 months difference, they are like twins and his mum. Both have their own busy lives. His brother is a joiner and his mum works, as she always has, as a carer. Curtis has offered to support her but, he says with a shrug, she just refuses to give up work. His mum would take him to training every day as a child. If it wasn’t for her, he wouldn’t be where he is.
While Sandra is a prominent figure in Curtis’s life, his father remains a more private figure. However, his influence is undeniable. Curtis’s father is of Nigerian descent, a heritage that traces back to his grandmother, something that we already covered here at ThickAccent last year. This mixed ethnicity gives Jones a rich cultural background, blending his Scouse roots with African heritage.
Though details about his father are sparse in the public domain, the Nigerian lineage adds another layer to Curtis’s identity, connecting him to a global footballing tradition.
Further, Curtis’s love for football was evident from a young age, but it wasn’t until he was nine that his life took a pivotal turn. Securing a place at Liverpool’s Youth Academy marked the transition from makeshift street games to structured football training.
By 15, Jones had already made waves, earning a spot in the U-18 squad. His meteoric rise continued, and soon he was dazzling fans in the senior team. But those early days of climbing fences and playing street football under the stars remain etched in his game, giving him the grit and flair that set him apart. Further, Jones signed his first professional contract with the club in February 2018, which finally completed his cycle of rising through the ranks to the first team.
On his meteoric rise through the Liverpool ranks, Curtis Jones recently explained his feelings about it in an interview with the Independent on January 5 2020 by saying,
It definitely hits you (the rise to senior team from academy),” he said. “Everyone says I’m a confident lad and that I’ve got that bit of swagger about me, but regardless of who you are, there’s always that bit of fear inside your body. Not because of the opposition, but the opportunity, because you know it’s your chance and you don’t want to fail.
Curtis Jones’s rise from Toxteth to Anfield showcases the impact of hard work, familial support, and cultural roots. As he continues to excel on the pitch, his journey serves as an inspiring reminder of how greatness can emerge from the most modest beginnings.
