Name:
Ian Turner
Country:
EnglandClub:
Southampton F.C.Position: *
GKSide:
RF/BSAge:
22-23 years (17/01/1953)Height:
183 cmWeight:
83 kgAttack:
30Defence:
78Balance:
76Stamina:
62Top Speed:
71Acceleration:
72Response:
82Agility:
78Dribble Accuracy:
50Dribble Speed:
50Short Pass Accuracy:
60Short Pass Speed:
60Long Pass Accuracy:
62Long Pass Speed:
60Shot Accuracy:
40Shot Power:
78Shot Technique:
44Free Kick Accuracy:
45Curling:
45Header:
50Jump:
83Technique:
55Aggression:
60Mentality:
78Goalkeeper Skills:
78Team Work:
72Injury Tolerance:
BCondition:
6Weak Foot Accuracy:
4Weak Foot Frequency:
4Consistency:
5Growth Type:
Early/PeakCARDS:SPECIAL ABILITIES: Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Defence Minded
INFO:Up until May 1st 1976, Ian Turner’s goalkeeping career could fairly be classed run-of-the-mill, but his bravery and temperament on that Wembley afternoon – as he recovered from a shaky start in which the shots were, as he puts it, “bouncing of my head and everything” – forever enshrined his name in the history books of the club, not to mention impressing his mother who was at her first football match.
Ian originally played at centre-half for his local team, South Bank. During a match against Huddersfield Reserves he went in goal as a replacement and played so well that he was noticed by Huddersfield Town's manager, Ian Greaves, who signed him as a professional in October 1970. He transferred to Grimsby Town in March 1972 where he first became acquainted with manager Lawrie McMenemy. In March 1974, Southampton were seeking a replacement for long-time goalkeeper, Eric Martin, so McMenemy, who was by now Southampton's manager, went back to his former club, Grimsby, to sign Ian Turner. Ian was the first choice keeper for the next few seasons, and in May 1976 was part of the Southampton team who beat Manchester United 1–0 in the FA Cup final. Turner made a series of impressive saves to deny Gerry Daly and Gordon Hill.
He was a brave and reliable keeper, but at the start of the 1976–77 season he injured his left knee and required an operation to remove both cartilages. After his return to fitness he only made occasional appearances, including 3 appearances in European games against Olympique Marseille (twice) and Napoli. He started the following season as first-choice 'keeper, but after 8 games he lost his place to Peter Wells in October 1977. He only played 4 further league games that season. He left Southampton in the summer of 1978 to play for Fort Lauderdale, before working for many of Hampshire's minor teams as a coach.
In his five years at The Dell, he made 107 first team appearances for Southampton.