Chris Turner (footballer born 1951)
Encyclopedia
Christopher James "Chris" Turner (born 3 April 1951 in St Neots
, Cambridgeshire
) is an English
former professional footballer and manager, best known for a nine year association as a player with Peterborough United
.
in 1969. He went onto make 314 league appearances as a defender
, scoring 37 goals. 1977 saw him spend a loan spell in the United States
with the Connecticut Bicentennials
, an experience he enjoyed so much that he moved permanently to the New England Tea Men
a year later. He returned to England
to join Luton Town
the same year, and although he did well during his season in Bedfordshire
, he moved back to New England at the end of the season. At the end of the American season, he switched again, this time to join Cambridge United
.
He played for one season at Cambridge, playing 19 times before leaving the country to play in the American Soccer League
once again with New England. After returning to England
he joined up with Swindon Town
for a brief spell before returning to Cambridge. Turner ended a 15 year playing career with a spell at Southend United
before retiring in 1984.
and were looking for a new appointment. Turner was appointed as his replacement. He managed Cambridge until January 1990, stabilising a club that was at rock bottom and turning them slowly into promotion candidates. He built much of the squad that he would later hand over to John Beck
to take the team up from the Fourth Division
to Second Division
.
He took on his next managerial position at his first club, Peterborough United
, in January 1991 and managed the club until December 1992, going on to be one of the most successful managers in the club's history. He retired from football in 1992 and went on to own the club as chairman before selling his interest to Barry Fry
in 1996.
In 2006, Turner teamed up with ex-Peterborough player Lee Power
, now chairman of Cambridge United, to help out in a temporary coaching role at the club.
St Neots
St Neots is a town and civil parish with a population of 26,356 people. It lies on the River Great Ouse in Huntingdonshire District, approximately north of central London, and is the largest town in Cambridgeshire . The town is named after the Cornish monk St...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former professional footballer and manager, best known for a nine year association as a player with Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
.
Playing career
Turner began his playing career with Peterborough UnitedPeterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
in 1969. He went onto make 314 league appearances as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, scoring 37 goals. 1977 saw him spend a loan spell in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with the Connecticut Bicentennials
Connecticut Bicentennials
The Hartford Bicentennials was a soccer team based out of Hartford, Connecticut that played in the North American Soccer League. The team played at Dillon Stadium....
, an experience he enjoyed so much that he moved permanently to the New England Tea Men
New England Tea Men
The New England Tea Men were a soccer team based out of Foxboro, MA that played in the NASL from 1978 to 1980. Their home field was Schaefer Stadium....
a year later. He returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to join Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
the same year, and although he did well during his season in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, he moved back to New England at the end of the season. At the end of the American season, he switched again, this time to join Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
.
He played for one season at Cambridge, playing 19 times before leaving the country to play in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
once again with New England. After returning to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
he joined up with Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
for a brief spell before returning to Cambridge. Turner ended a 15 year playing career with a spell at 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...
before retiring in 1984.
Non-playing career
In December 1985, Cambridge United had sacked their manager Ken ShellitoKen Shellito
Kenneth John Shellito is a former English football player and manager who now works in a coaching role for the Asian Football Confederation, based in Kuala Lumpur...
and were looking for a new appointment. Turner was appointed as his replacement. He managed Cambridge until January 1990, stabilising a club that was at rock bottom and turning them slowly into promotion candidates. He built much of the squad that he would later hand over to John Beck
John Beck (footballer)
John Alexander Beck is an English former footballer and manager. As a player he made nearly 500 league appearances between 1972 and 1988....
to take the team up from the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
to 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...
.
He took on his next managerial position at his first club, Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, in January 1991 and managed the club until December 1992, going on to be one of the most successful managers in the club's history. He retired from football in 1992 and went on to own the club as chairman before selling his interest to Barry Fry
Barry Fry
Barry Francis Fry is an English football manager. A former Manchester United apprentice as a winger, his playing career involved brief spells with Bolton Wanderers, Luton Town and Leyton Orient, before he retired prematurely due to injury.He has managed Dunstable Town, Bedford Town, Maidstone...
in 1996.
In 2006, Turner teamed up with ex-Peterborough player Lee Power
Lee Power
Lee Michael Power is a former professional footballer and a former chairman of Cambridge United. Despite being born in London, his Irish ancestry allowed him to be capped by Republic of Ireland at Youth, Under-21 and B level...
, now chairman of Cambridge United, to help out in a temporary coaching role at the club.