Bill Turner (footballer)
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Turner was an English footballer who played as a half back with Southampton
, Bury
and Queens Park Rangers
in the 1920s.
, Stanley
, County Durham
and played his early football with various clubs in North East England
, including Dipton United, Scotswood and Leadgate Park
. His professional career was delayed by the First World War but in September 1919 he moved to the South Coast to join Southern League
Southampton
for a fee of £200.
) over Southend United
when he took over at left back from Fred Titmuss
. Following injuries to half backs, George Bradburn
and Reg Hackett
in March 1920, Turner was moved forward to left-half, a position he retained for the rest of his professional career.
In 1920, the Saints were elected to the Football League Third Division
for its inaugural season, in which Turner was ever-present. Although they finished second in the league, Southampton missed out on the only promotion spot to Crystal Palace
. Under manager Jimmy McIntyre
, Saints went one better in 1921–22, finishing equal on points with Plymouth Argyle
but with a superior goal average, with Turner once again ever-present. He was the only member of the promotion side who cost Southampton a fee, with Saints conceding only 21 goals. This total of goals conceded in a 42 match season was a Football League record which stood until 1979 and remains a record for Southampton.
The half back line of Bert Shelley
, Alec Campbell
and Turner cemented Saints place in the Second Division
over the next few years, until Turner lost his place to Arthur Bradford
in April 1924.
In 1924, he moved to the First Division
Bury
– in his five seasons at The Dell, Turner made 166 league and 20 FA Cup appearances, scoring once.
, Bury signed Turner in April 1924, with Stan Woodhouse
and John Callagher moving to the south coast as part of the deal.
Turner was ever-present for the 1924–25 season as Bury finished fifth in the table, followed up by a fourth-place finish in 1926. In the 1926–27 season injury restricted Turner to five appearances, as manager James Hunter tried several players at left half, with the team finishing just above the relegation zone.
After three years of dependable service, Turner returned to the Third Division South in 1927, spending one season with Queens Park Rangers
before retiring.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
and Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in the 1920s.
Football career
Turner was born in South MoorSouth Moor
South Moor is a village in County Durham, in England. It is located to the south-west of Stanley on the northern slope of the Craghead valley. It is a well-developed village, yet still semi rural, containing a main street of around twelve shops which survive despite their proximity to the front...
, Stanley
Stanley, County Durham
Stanley is a former colliery town and civil parish in County Durham, England. Centred on a hilltop between Chester-le-Street and Consett, the town lies south west of Gateshead....
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and played his early football with various clubs in North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
, including Dipton United, Scotswood and Leadgate Park
Leadgate Park F.C.
Leadgate Park F.C. was an English association football club based in the village of Leadgate, County Durham. The club was founded in the late 1880s; the team was at least active in January 1889. Leadgate Park entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1892, receiving a bye in the first qualifying...
. His professional career was delayed by the First World War but in September 1919 he moved to the South Coast to join Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
for a fee of £200.
Southampton
He made his "Saints" debut on 8 November 1919 in a 4–0 victory (three goals from Bill RawlingsBill Rawlings
William Ernest "Bill" Rawlings was an English footballer.-Playing career:Rawlings' career started in 1918 with Southampton, he stayed ten years with the club, from 1918 to 1928. His 193 goals places him third on the club's list of all-time goalscorers, behind Mick Channon and Matthew Le Tissier...
) over Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
when he took over at left back from Fred Titmuss
Fred Titmuss
Frederick Titmuss was an English footballer who played at full-back for Southampton and Plymouth Argyle, and also made two appearances for England.-Southampton:...
. Following injuries to half backs, George Bradburn
George Bradburn (footballer)
George Bradburn was an English footballer who played as a centre-half for Southampton and Walsall in the years immediately after World War I.-Football career:...
and Reg Hackett
Reg Hackett
Reginald Lawrence Hackett was an English professional footballer who played at left-half for Southampton during the 1919–20 season.-Football career:...
in March 1920, Turner was moved forward to left-half, a position he retained for the rest of his professional career.
In 1920, the Saints were elected to the Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
for its inaugural season, in which Turner was ever-present. Although they finished second in the league, Southampton missed out on the only promotion spot to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
. Under manager Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
, Saints went one better in 1921–22, finishing equal on points with Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
but with a superior goal average, with Turner once again ever-present. He was the only member of the promotion side who cost Southampton a fee, with Saints conceding only 21 goals. This total of goals conceded in a 42 match season was a Football League record which stood until 1979 and remains a record for Southampton.
The half back line of Bert Shelley
Bert Shelley
Frederick Albert "Bert" Shelley was an English footballer, who played as a half back for Southampton, for whom he made nearly 450 appearances, before becoming a coach at Southampton...
, Alec Campbell
Alec Campbell (footballer)
Alistair Kenyon Campbell was a professional footballer who played nearly 200 games for Southampton in the first quarter of the twentieth century, before briefly becoming manager at Chesterfield....
and Turner cemented Saints place in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
over the next few years, until Turner lost his place to Arthur Bradford
Arthur Bradford (footballer)
James Arthur Bradford was an English footballer who played his entire professional career as a half back with Southampton...
in April 1924.
In 1924, he moved to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
– in his five seasons at The Dell, Turner made 166 league and 20 FA Cup appearances, scoring once.
Bury and Q.P.R.
In a bid to strengthen the team following their return to the First DivisionFootball League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, Bury signed Turner in April 1924, with Stan Woodhouse
Stan Woodhouse
Stanley "Stan" Woodhouse was an English footballer who played initially as an inside forward and later as a half back with Bury and Southampton in the 1920s and 1930s.-Playing career:...
and John Callagher moving to the south coast as part of the deal.
Turner was ever-present for the 1924–25 season as Bury finished fifth in the table, followed up by a fourth-place finish in 1926. In the 1926–27 season injury restricted Turner to five appearances, as manager James Hunter tried several players at left half, with the team finishing just above the relegation zone.
After three years of dependable service, Turner returned to the Third Division South in 1927, spending one season with Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
before retiring.
Honours
SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
champions: 1921–22