My brother’s a Love Island star and musician, I’m making my way in the EFL and scoring unstoppable headers
SOME families just have talent in their DNA and the Nelson family are certainly one of them.
Derby County defender Curtis Nelson has become an EFL star over the years, while brother Wes has been starring on TV screens and releasing UK Top 10 hits.
Curtis, 31, has made over 500 EFL appearances across five different clubs and helped Derby earn promotion to the Championship last season – earning the Rams’ Player of the Season award in the process.
While brother Wes rose to fame on reality show Love Island in 2018 – a springboard for a successful music career that has seen him collaborate with huge artists such as Clean Bandit and Craig David.
Despite the bright lights of the stage being a world away from Pride Park, Wes claims that brother Curtis has always been his inspiration to achieve big things.
Speaking to the EFL, Wes said: “When people say ‘who’s your biggest idol in your career’, they act a bit shocked when it’s my brother in football.”
Adding: “Behind the scenes, I’ve personally never met anyone that is more dedicated to their craft.
“When it comes to drinking, you [Curtis] are not drinking, you’re not going out and doing this. You’re putting in the hours and you’re always running.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone hit a ball against a garage ball so many times when I was younger.”
The practice really does seem to make perfect for Curtis who has been playing some of his best football since joining Derby in 2023.
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And for the former Blackpool and Cardiff man, it’s the pair’s parents that have been his biggest inspiration.
He said: “Mum and dad did a lot for us didn’t they, especially growing up.
“Even now they take you [Wes] around and come and see you at shows and in the studio.
“They’ve done so much for us and for me, my idol would have been our parents.”
More used to scoring bullet headers – as he did for the Rams against QPR on Saturday – than being an internet sensation, Curtis has had to step out of his comfort zone to support his brother.
The former England youth international was actually the brains behind Wes’ social media during the 26-year-old’s stint on Love Island.
Perhaps success really does run in the Nelson blood with the pair not the only familiar faces in the family.
The pair are the cousins of Ashleigh and Alexander Nelson, a brother and sister sprinting duo who represented Team GB at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Unbelievably, Wes and Curtis aren’t the only Love Island and professional football brothers around in the English game at the moment.
Manchester United and England star Kobbie Mainoo is the brother of fellow Love Islander Jordan Hames.
Who are these famous footballers?
- I was West Ham captain but I almost went to jail over bankruptcy
- I’m a former Man Utd star and I once stole a girl from Ronaldo
- I’m an ex-Man Utd star – now I own a dog-themed B&B
- I was Thierry Henry’s toughest opponent but quit to become a pastor
- I’m a former Wolves striker but I left football behind to become a vicar