The football pyramid is complex, with many layers showcasing the difference between the pros and the amateurs. The difference in quality between leagues in the pyramid is well represented, catching everyone’s eye when someone jumps up two leagues from non-league to professional football. Tom Cursons is the most recent player to impress in the non-league and earn a move into the EFL, fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a professional footballer.
It was Harrogate Town who grabbed Curson’s signature, fending off interest from other professional clubs in the English Football League. Players in the non-league may see games as a hobby, or even as a potential side hustle, often working full-time jobs or studying and playing football on the side for some additional funds. Tom Cursons made the change from student to pro in the January transfer window of 2025 and remains a professional footballer to date.
Interest Around The Leagues
Topping the scoring charts for Ilkeston Town in step 6 created a buzz around the 23-year-old, with many clubs interested in signing the attacker. Teams interested in securing Cursons back in January included Derby County, Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley, Peterborough, and others. Ever since the success story of non-league’s very own Jamie Vardy at Leicester City, clubs have been looking into the lower leagues. The potential signing of Cursons posed strong potential upside, with a small risk attached, intriguing many football clubs in the pyramid.
The race for the prolific striker’s signature began at the beginning of the window, with teams like Bolton and Chesterfield being some of the first teams to declare their interest. Albeit a late entrant into the market, Town secured the signature with Tom Cursons stating, “It is a really exciting time for me” following the transfer..
Tom Cursons Playstyle
As mentioned, Tom Cursons is a striker with a keen eye for a goal. His goalscoring record in the non-league speaks for itself, showing how naturally goalscoring comes to him. Cursons possesses a strong work rate, making him a dedicated character out of possession, as well as the will to make things happen in possession. Making him a threat for all defenders, Cursons holds electrifying pace and power that will transfer well into the Football League. In addition to his impressive physical attributes, Cursons can finish with both feet, causing problems for defenders in the box. Alongside this unpredictability, he reads the game superbly and understands when and where to run at the right times in play.
The History of Tom Cursons
Tom Cursons began his footballing career playing for Metropolitan Police in the Southern South Non League Premier. He played 11 games in the league, scoring just a single goal; however, as a young striker, he struggled to get solid game time. During his time with the Metropolitan Police, he was loaned out to Badshot Lea to get more gametime. Cursons joined Walton & Hersham in 2021 but left the same year to join Hartley Wintney. He then joined Gainsborough Trinity in 2022, where he played over 20 games in his 11 months at the club.
He joined Long Eaton United at the end of 2022. Over the 2022/23 season, he made over 20 appearances, scoring 10 goals, which contributed to the team’s promotion. He made a short spell at Barwell FC in the 2023/24 season, scoring 5 league goals in his time. In December 2023, Cursons signed for Ilkeston Town and scored 12 goals in 18 appearances in the 2023/24 season. The season following, Cursons scored 15 goals in 17 games in the Northern Premier League, sparking interest in several EFL teams. Tom Cursons signed for Harrogate Town in the January transfer window of the 2024/25 season.
How Cursons Will Fit in the Harrogate Town XI
For the 2025/26 season, we suspect Tom Cursons to operate a similar role to the one he had at the back end of the previous season. We think he will be mainly used as a rotational striker and in cup fixtures. With the departure of previous striker Josh March, we expect Mason Bennett to take a more advanced role as the primary number 9. Cursons will also need to prove his worth against the new signing, Shawn McCoulsky, who came in on a free transfer in the summer.
We think this will be an important season for Tom Cursons, as it is his first full season in professional football. Cursons is still adapting to the pace, physicality, and technical ability of the players in the Football League, which is a huge jump from his previous playing experience. Cursons is impressing the current manager, Simon Weaver, who has been quick to praise the young forward, describing him as “a breath of fresh air”.
