Curtis Booth, generally referred to as Tommy, began his playing days in his native North East with Wallsend Elm Villa and signed professional forms for Newcastle United in November 1913. He showed early promise with the Magpies, scoring twice in nineteen league appearances before the suspension of official football following the outbreak of the First World War.

Newcastle were one of a number of clubs who suspended operations during the conflict, and he threw his lot in with Leeds City for the 1915/16 season, along with a number of St James' Park colleagues. He was employed on Tyneside at the time, so there were constant worries that he would be able to get away from work in time to play, but he managed eight appearances between November and March, making his debut in a goalless draw at Grimsby on 20 November.

After the resumption of official football operations in 1919, Booth returned to Newcastle, scoring four goals in fifteen games before joining Norwich City in September 1920 in a deal worth £800. He spent three years in the Third Division with Norwich before taking over as captain and player-manager at Accrington Stanley in June 1923. Booth damaged his knee ligaments during his Accrington debut against Darlington in August and was forced to retire as a player, being released altogether the following May.

He left the United Kingdom to make a living coaching abroad, spending time in Germany, Turkey, Egypt, France and the Netherlands. He died on 29 October 1949 in Amsterdam.