Turner Bert Image 1 Doncaster Rovers 1935

Description

Sheffield born outside left Bert Turner began his football career with Grimethorpe Wesleyan Reform in 1923 and played for Mansfield & Howell SC in 1924 and Ecclesfield United in 1925 before joining Denaby United in 1926. In 1928 he joined Second Division Hull City, making his Football League debut against Clapton Orient in March 1929, but he struggled to make an impression at Anlaby Road, scoring twice in 19 appearances before joining Walsall in August 1931. He was The Saddlers’ joint top goalscorer with Gilbert Alsop, netting 15 goals in 1931-32, and scored 22 goals in 58 appearances over his two seasons at Fellows Park, before being brought to Doncaster Rovers by manager David Menzies in the close season of 1933.

After 14 goals in his first season at Belle Vue, which included a goal on his debut against Gateshead and a hat-trick against Rochdale, he was the club’s top scorer as they won the Third Division (North) Championship with 26 goals in the campaign, a total  that included a hat-trick at Accrington Stanley and five goals in a 7-1 win over New Brighton in February 1935. He also scored in five consecutive matches and then six consecutive matches during the campaign. On 21st October 1936, Turner played in Rovers’ first match abroad. He had a goal controversially disallowed in a 7-2 defeat by the Dutch National XI in Rotterdam.

After their promotion he played two further seasons for Doncaster in the Second Division but when they were relegated in 1937 he joined Cardiff City that summer after 53 goals in 122 appearances. He fired an impressive 21 goals for The Bluebirds from 46 games in their 1937-38 campaign but lost his place early in the following season after a goal in only a pair of further appearances, and he joined Bristol Rovers in December 1938, where he scored 4 goals in 21 appearances before the end of the 1938-39 season. He finished his career joining non league Bath City in July 1939, thereafter retiring with the Second World War.

He was the father of Gordon Turner, who is Luton Town’s highest ever goalscorer, having scored 265 goals for The Hatters in the 1950’s and 1960’s in 438 appearances.