Stan Turner

Stanley Simpson Turner (21 October 1926 – 28 April 1991) was an English footballer. A tough-tackling defender, he made 246 appearances (227 in the league, 18 in the FA Cup and 1 in the Coronation Cup) for Port Vale during one of the club's brightest periods. He helped the "Valiants" to win the Third Division North title and to reach the FA Cup semi-finals in 1953–54.

For the KSTP-TV news anchor, see Stan Turner (news anchor). For the Canadian pilot, see Stan Turner (RAF officer).

Stan Turner
Brian Wharburton, Paul Bannister, John James, Stanley Matthews, John Bostock and Turner (left to right)
Personal information
Full name Stanley Simpson Turner[1]
Date of birth (1926-10-21)21 October 1926
Place of birth Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Date of death 28 April 1991(1991-04-28) (aged 64)[1]
Place of death Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Playing position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1949–1957 Port Vale 227 (0)
Worcester City
Burton Albion
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Turner joined Port Vale in March 1949, making his debut a year later.[1] He featured in six Third Division South games in 1950–51 under the stewardship of Gordon Hodgson.[1] After Ivor Powell's brief reign at Vale Park, Turner established himself in the first team under Freddie Steele, playing 40 games in 1951–52.[1] He featured 46 times in 1952–53, as the "Valiants" finished second in the Third Division North.[1]

In 1953–54, he was part of the "Iron Curtain" defence – along with Ray King (goalkeeper), Tommy Cheadle, Reg Potts and Roy Sproson – that won the league title and reached the FA Cup semi-finals.[1] He played 42 Second Division games in 1954–55, but was restricted to 28 appearances in 1955–56 due to a cartilage operation.[1] He played just 29 games in 1956–57, and was transferred to Worcester City (Southern League) in July 1957 by new manager Norman Low.[1] He later played for Burton Albion.[1]

Style of play

Former teammate Roy Sproson said: "[he was] an immaculate reader of the game with a tremendous volley. But Stan was also neat around his feet and constructive although, by his very nature, he could frighten a winger to death."[2] Former teammate Graham Barnett later recalled how Turner and fellow defender Reg Potts did not get along and refused to speak to each other despite playing alongside each other for eight years.[3] Barnet also described Turner as having a 'take-no-prisoners' approach to dealing with opposition wingers.[3]

Statistics

Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale 1950–51 Third Division South 601070
1951–52 Third Division South 40000400
1952–53 Third Division North 43020450
1953–54 Third Division North 43080510
1954–55 Second Division 42030450
1955–56 Second Division 26020280
1956–57 Second Division 27020290
Total 22701802450

Honours
Port Vale
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References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 294. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Harper, Chris (10 February 1975). "Sproson's Eleven". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  3. Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 25. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
  4. Stan Turner at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  5. Sherwin, Phil; Askey, Steve (2013), Men of Steele: The story of Port Vale's stunning 1953/54 season, Pass Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9926579-1-8
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