Stan Turner

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

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.

A pair of Turner's boots at a Potteries Museum display

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]
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1949–1957	Port Vale	227	(0)
	Worcester City
	Burton Albion
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Turner joined Port Vale in March 1949, debuting 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]

Personal life

Turner was married and had a son named Stanley and a daughter named Elaine.^[4]

Career statistics

Source:^[5]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	1950–51	Third Division South	6	0	1	0	7	0
	1951–52	Third Division South	40	0	0	0	40	0
	1952–53	Third Division North	43	0	2	0	45	0
	1953–54	Third Division North	43	0	8	0	51	0
	1954–55	Second Division	42	0	3	0	45	0
	1955–56	Second Division	26	0	2	0	28	0
	1956–57	Second Division	27	0	2	0	29	0
	Total		227	0	18	0	245	0

Honours

Port Vale

• Football League Third Division North: 1953–54^[6]

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. Fielding, Rob (10 June 2023). "Port Vale's 1954 heroes pictured away from the pitch". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
5. Stan Turner at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
6. 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