1967 Toronto Falcons Playing position Name Roy Turner | Years Team Role Soccer player 1967 Philadelphia Spartans Position Midfielder | |
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Date of birth (1943-03-30) March 30, 1943 (age 72) | ||
Place of birth Liverpool, England | ||
Roy Turner (born March 30, 1943 in Liverpool, England) is a former English American soccer who spent one season in the National Professional Soccer League, eleven in the North American Soccer League. He then went on to coach the Wichita Wings of Major Indoor Soccer League for eight seasons. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team.
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Professional
Turner moved to the United States in 1967 to play for the Philadelphia Spartans of the National Professional Soccer League. He was traded to the Toronto Falcons eighteen games into the season. Following the 1967 season, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. Turner then signed with the Cleveland Stokers of the NASL, but saw no first team action during the 1968 season. In 1969, he moved to the Dallas Tornado where he would remain until 1978. In 1971, Turner and his team mates won the NASL championship. In 1973, they again went to the title game, but lost to the Philadelphia Atoms. Turner was a second team All Star in 1970, and an honorable mention (third team) in 1971 and 1973. Despite both his personal and team success, Turner found it difficult to make enough money playing for the Tornado and sold cars during the off-season. Roy Turner is a fan of Everton FC.[1]
National team
Turner earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1973. The first was a 1-0 loss to Poland on August 3, 1973 Friederich Kovacs replaced him at halftime. The second was a 2-0 loss to Mexico on October 16, 1973. In this game, he replaced Alain Maca in the 24th minute.[2]
Coaching
In 1979, Turner was hired as the head coach of the expansion Wichita Wings of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He became one of the most successful MISL coaches, remaining as head coach through the end of the 1985-1986 season. In his seven seasons as head coach, he took the team to the MISL semifinals five times. He also served as general manager for the Wings during those years. Following his stepping down as coach in 1986, he became president of the Wings organization. When the Wings entered a down ward slide during the 1990-1991 season, Turner stepped back in as head coach thirty-four games into the season. On February 24, 1996, Turner resigned as president and general manager of the Wings.[3] Sedgwick County, in which the Wings played, declared March 24, 1996 as Roy Turner Day.[4]
Post soccer career
Turner continues to live with his family in Wichita where he runs the annual Wichita Open Golf Tournament[5]
High School Soccer Coaching Career
After retiring as the coach of the Wichita Wings, he went on to coach his son's middle school and high school soccer teams. He coached six years at the Independent School. He retired from the Independent School after his son graduated in 2006.