Gordon Turner
Encyclopedia
Gordon Reginald Turner was an English
footballer, who was best known as a Luton Town
centre forward. He is Luton Town's all-time top goalscorer, with 243 in the League and 276 overall.
professional footballer, Turner began his own footballing career as a right sided midfielder
. During his national service
in the Royal Navy
, two Chief Petty Officers, both Luton
ians, saw his raw talent and tipped off Dally Duncan
, the manager of Luton Town
. Duncan happened to know the teenage Turner's father, having played alongside him for Hull—whether or not this influenced his judgement, Turner was signed on as an apprentice in 1949.
He made his debut on 9 December 1950, in a 4–1 defeat at Coventry City
, playing in midfield. However, the following season, he was given the opportunity to play up front and soon began scoring many goals, including a hat-trick in his fourth game.
Over the next few seasons Turner developed into Luton's star player—he scored 32 goals during the 1954–55 season to secure top flight football at Kenilworth Road
for the first time, and continued to help Luton hold their own in the First Division
.
Turner was dropped from the team for the FA Cup
for the 1958–59 season due to injury—despite Turner's absence, Luton marched to the final at Wembley to face Nottingham Forest
in their first Cup final
. Despite Turner's return to fitness, Luton named an unchanged side, meaning Turner was still not picked. Luton lost 2–1.
Turner's last Football League match came on 25 April 1964, as Luton beat Watford
2–1 at Kenilworth Road. By his final game, he had scored 243 league goals for the club, and 276 in all competitions. Both of these figures stand as club records in 2009.
at Wisbech Town
, where Pye was player-manager. He then spent a season at Kettering Town
, scoring 37 goals.
Sadly, he contracted motor neurone disease when he was 41, and after a brave fight with the illness, he died at 46 years.
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...
footballer, who was best known as a 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...
centre forward. He is Luton Town's all-time top goalscorer, with 243 in the League and 276 overall.
Luton Town
Born in Doncaster, the son of a Hull CityHull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
professional footballer, Turner began his own footballing career as a right sided midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. During his national service
Conscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, two Chief Petty Officers, both Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
ians, saw his raw talent and tipped off Dally Duncan
Dally Duncan
Douglas "Dally" Duncan was an Aberdeen-born football player and manager.A left-winger, Duncan joined Hull City from Aberdeen Richmond in 1928 and spent his entire professional career in England. He joined Derby County for £2,000 in 1932 and remained contracted to the club until 1946...
, the manager of 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...
. Duncan happened to know the teenage Turner's father, having played alongside him for Hull—whether or not this influenced his judgement, Turner was signed on as an apprentice in 1949.
He made his debut on 9 December 1950, in a 4–1 defeat at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, playing in midfield. However, the following season, he was given the opportunity to play up front and soon began scoring many goals, including a hat-trick in his fourth game.
Over the next few seasons Turner developed into Luton's star player—he scored 32 goals during the 1954–55 season to secure top flight football at Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road Stadium is a football stadium in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. It has been home to Luton Town Football Club since 1905, when financial complications forced the club to leave its previous location at Dunstable Road...
for the first time, and continued to help Luton hold their own in 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....
.
Turner was dropped from the team for the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
for the 1958–59 season due to injury—despite Turner's absence, Luton marched to the final at Wembley to face Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in their first Cup final
1959 FA Cup Final
The 1959 FA Cup Final was contested by Nottingham Forest and Luton Town at Wembley. Forest won 2–1, with goals from Roy Dwight and Tommy Wilson just four minutes apart...
. Despite Turner's return to fitness, Luton named an unchanged side, meaning Turner was still not picked. Luton lost 2–1.
Turner's last Football League match came on 25 April 1964, as Luton beat Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
2–1 at Kenilworth Road. By his final game, he had scored 243 league goals for the club, and 276 in all competitions. Both of these figures stand as club records in 2009.
Later career
After he had retired from the League, Turner joined his former Luton team-mate Jesse PyeJesse Pye
Jesse Pye was an English footballer. He played in the Football League for , and and scored twice in the 1949 FA Cup Final for the former....
at Wisbech Town
Wisbech Town F.C.
Wisbech Town F.C. is an English football club currently based in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at the Fenland Stadium.-History:...
, where Pye was player-manager. He then spent a season at Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
, scoring 37 goals.
Sadly, he contracted motor neurone disease when he was 41, and after a brave fight with the illness, he died at 46 years.