- Graham Turner
Infobox Football biography
playername = Graham Turner
fullname = Graham John Turner
dateofbirth = birth date and age|df=yes|1947|10|5
cityofbirth =Ellesmere Port
countryofbirth =England
height = height|ft=5|in=10
currentclub = Hereford United
(Chairman, Director of Football, Manager)
position = Centre back
years = 1964–1968
1968–1973
1973–1983
clubs = Wrexham
Chester City
Shrewsbury Town
Total
caps(goals) = 077 0(0)
218 0(5)
355 (22)
650 (27)
manageryears = 1978–1984
1984–1986
1986–1994
1995–
managerclubs = Shrewsbury Town
Aston Villa
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Hereford UnitedGraham John Turner (born 5 October 1947 in
Ellesmere Port ) is an English former footballer, and manager of Hereford United since the 1995-96 season. Now entering his 14th season at the club, he is currently the second longest-serving manager in England behindSir Alex Ferguson . Turner has 30 years of managerial experience and has managed clubs in each of the top five tiers of English football. As of the end of the 2007-08 season he has overseen 1,483 competitive matches, of which 1,239 are league matches.Since 1998 he has been chairman and director of football at Hereford, having purchased the majority shareholding when the club was in a financial crisis. The last decade has seen him stabilise the club's finances, turning a profit for the last five seasons, [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2298739/Hereford-United-enjoying-promotion.html Hereford United enjoying promotion] The Daily Telegraph, 28 April 2008. Retrieved on 17 August 2008.] and build squads on free transfers with only two players purchased between 1997 and 2008.
In the last three seasons he has overseen two promotions; from the Conference in 2006 by winning the play-offs, and from League Two in 2008 by finishing third. In recognition of the latter achievement he was voted League Two Manager of the Year by the
League Managers Association . [ [http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/article/1785503/Graham-Turner-Manager-of-the-Year Graham Turner Manager of the Year] Hereford United Official Website, 13 May 2008. Retrieved on 4 August 2008.]Career history
Playing career
Turner was an England youth international and started his playing career at Wrexham before moving to rivals Chester City in January 1968 in part-exchange for
Ian Moir . Five years and 218Football League appearances later he moved to his third and final club Shrewsbury Town for £30,000. Having played as a midfielder for his first two clubs, he switched to centre back. [ [http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FormerManagersDetails/0,,10265~1157091,00.html Former Managers] Aston Villa Official Website. Retrieved on 4 August 2008.] He went on to make over 350 league appearances for the Salopians. During the 1970s he played against Hereford United several times, the club he was later to buy.Early managerial career
He became player-manager for the Shrews in the 1978-79 season, the same year the club sealed the Third Division championship. Shrewsbury ultimately spent ten seasons in the Second Division and Turner twice led them to the quarter-finals of the
FA Cup . He ended his playing career in 1983, and left Shrewsbury after six seasons to take charge of Aston Villa in the summer of 1984. Unfortunately his time at Villa Park was less successful and he was sacked on 17 September 1986, just over two years after his appointment.He was then appointed manager of Wolves, a club then in the Fourth Division and massively in debt. In his first season Wolves reached the play-offs but failed to secure promotion. However the following two seasons brought successive landslide promotions with the help of goal-machine
Steve Bull and striking partnerAndy Mutch . Mid-table finishes in the Second Division, and subsequently (following the formation of thePremier League ) Division One, followed before he left in March 1994. He also led Wolves to Sherpa Van Trophy glory at Wembley in 1987-88.Career at Hereford United
He was appointed manager of Hereford United for the start of the 1995-96 season, then in Division Three. His first season was a success, reaching the FA Cup Third Round and the play-offs, losing over two legs to Darlington. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2421528/Conference-Hereford's-young-Bulls-on-the-charge.html Conference: Hereford's young Bulls on a charge] The Daily Telegraph, 15 September 2003. Retrieved on 17 August 2008.] . But the club was in financial trouble before his arrival and he was unable to retain several key players for the following season. On 3 May 1997, Hereford were relegated to the Conference in a traumatic 1-1 draw with Brighton. Having seen his resignation rejected he oversaw a sixth place finish in the Conference and, when chairman Peter Hill resigned, he purchased the majority shareholding in the club in partnership with Joan Fennessy - thus saving it from going under.
With the bank balance firmly in the red he had to endure several fruitless seasons in the Conference and had to sell key players to keep the club in business. The financial situation was becoming desperate early in the 2001-02 season. After a humiliating defeat to Hayes, and with the proverbial wolves at the door, Graham handed first team duties over to player-coach
Phil Robinson while he concentrated on securing the club's financial future. When Hereford finished 17th at the end of the season, it appeared enough was enough and Graham handed in his resignation to the board. But after several discussions he again decided to continue to remain at the club, despite the deadline to repay the debt looming large.2002-03 proved the turning point with Turner taking the opportunity to build an entirely new squad, retaining only six players from the previous season. The team, built entirely of free transfers, evolved into arguably the best footballing side in the Conference, finishing second in a record-breaking 2003-04 season. But Hereford faltered in the play-off semi final against Aldershot Town, with crucial decisions going against them. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2378464/Turner-bullish-about-a-Hereford-comeback.html Turner bullish about a Hereford comeback] The Daily Telegraph, 8 May 2004. Retrieved on 17 August 2008.] Another runners-up spot and play-off failure came the following season but the 2005-06 season proved third time lucky when Hereford defeated Halifax in the 2006 Conference Playoff Final, to secure promotion to the Football League. After the match, Graham said his overwhelming feeling was "relief" after many hard seasons in the Conference.
Hereford survived their first season back in the
Football League , and began the 2007-08 in fine form, so much so that they achieved promotion to the league's third tier that the fans had hoped for when Turner arrived at the helm back in 1995.Managerial statistics
Honours
* Third Division ("now
Football League One "): Winners (1978-79, 1988-89)
* Fourth Division ("nowFootball League Two "): Winners (1987-88), Third Place (2007-08)
* Conference National: Play-Off Winners (2005-06), Runners-Up (2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06)
* Welsh Cup: Winners (1978-79, 1983-84)
* Football League Trophy ("Sherpa Van Trophy "): Winners (1987-88)References
External links
* [http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/article/556481/Graham-Turner---Chairman-amp-Manager Profile on Hereford United Official Website]
* [http://www.herefordtimes.com/sport/thebulls/turner/ Weekly Column in Hereford Times]
Navboxes
title=Graham Turner - Navigation templates
list1=
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
