There is a common belief that footballers and loyalty are strange bedfellows. However, East Stirlingshire captain, Kevin Turner, is a shining example of a person who believes that investment in him should be rewarded by sticking around.
The 25-year-old has been a revelation since joining the Third Division outfit 18 months ago from amateur football and his performances had led to other clubs looking to entice him away from the Shire. However, the Shire’s Head Coach, John Coughlin, recently agreed a new deal for next season with Turner despite the growing attention from his admirers and Turner said: “Re-signing for East Stirling was an easy decision to make as the Manager here gave me a chance to make it at senior level in football 18 months ago.
“It's not as though I am not interested in progressing or anything like that but if I am to leave, I would like East Stirling to get a transfer fee as a reward for taking a chance on me as opposed to me just leaving."
Turner added: “I am a great believer in that if a move to a bigger club is going to happen, then it is going to happen, so I am not going to worry about it.
“Only 18 months ago, I was playing with two amateur teams so I have come a long way already. I have been playing amateur since I was 16 and was let go from the youth set-up at Rangers. It would be fair to say that since playing amateur football for seven years, with very little interest being shown in me, I thought my chance at senior football had gone.”
The Shire did have a look at the busy frontman prior to Coughlin’s appointment as Turner explained: “I had the chance at the Shire the season before I joined when one of my pals arranged for me to go on trial there. He was with their Under-19 side and got their Manager, Derek McKenzie, to recommend me to Jim McInally who was in charge at the time.
“I went along but Jim decided not to sign me so I just carried on at amateur level. Jim left and John Coughlin came in and Derek recommended me again. I got a trial at a time when the club was recruiting a brand new team and this time, I was offered the chance to go senior. I have been here ever since.”
Turner made his senior bow at The Bet Butler Stadium back in July, 2011 and as well as being a first in terms of the level he was playing at, it brought another first as well.
“I made my debut down at Dumbarton in a Ramsdens Cup tie and I scored to make it 2-2 with twenty minutes left,” said Turner before adding, “The whole thing was a new experience for me and I had not really thought about what would happen if I scored. I was used to playing at places like Loretto Playing Fields in Bishopbriggs for St. Mungo’s and when you score at grounds like that, there is a not a crowd watching you. If you score, you tend to just walk back to the half-way line without too much fuss.
“At Dumbarton, there was a crowd and a bit of noise so I had to become used to celebrating which is not too bad an experience to get used to. Unfortunately, we eventually lost that game 3-2.”
Turner has built on that fine start to become a well respected and sought after figure in the Third Division and he said: “It has been an amazing time since then and it has been great as my dad has been at every home and away game. To be playing senior in front of him is a great feeling as he always told me that if you worked hard, you would get something back for it. I am getting that now.”
That hard work ethic was clear to Coughlin from an early stage as he appointed Turner skipper just as his first pre-season was coming to a close with the attacker proud and surprised by the recognition.
He said: “It was the first time I had ever been a captain of a team which was a surprise since it was my first involvement at senior level. John just said that he had watched me train and play and that I had given everything one hundred percent. He wanted a team of players like that so I was made captain.
“The Shire are a great tight knit club and I have enjoyed being there. The Chairman, Tony Ford, is always in and around and there cannot be too many clubs where you just call the Chairman ‘Fordy’. The Secretary, Tadek Kopszywa, has also been really good to me and all that has helped me in my decision to stay.”
After the rebuilding job in the summer of 2011, Coughlin is guiding his side with small steps of solid progress and last season’s points total of 24 is already in sight however, even beating that will bring no great joy for Turner and his team-mates.
The striker said: “This season we should have more points than we have and be higher up the table as a result. We seem to have come up against 10 men in a lot of games and getting draws when we should be getting wins. Hopefully, we can get that winning mentality right and get the points on board that we deserve.”
Turner’s first season in senior football saw him introduced gently to the Third Division whereas this season, there has been a heightened focus due to Rangers joining in.
“There is a different level of attention now”, said Turner before adding “and our opponents this weekend, Montrose, will be facing us in front of a few hundred fans whereas last Saturday, they were in front of over 40,000 against Rangers.”
The change in Turner’s playing circumstances was highlighted back in August as he explained: “I was getting fairly comfortable with stepping up from amateur level in my first season and then early on this season, I was leading out a side to face Rangers in the first home League game of the season at Ibrox.
“I supported Rangers when I grew up so to go there and play, especially after thinking I never would when they released me as a kid, was quite special. The amount of friends and family I had with me that day back in August probably filled most of the ground.”
The game ended up 5-1 to Rangers with Turner advising: “It was a special day and, of course, we took the lead when Paul Quinn scored after only two minutes. My dad told me afterwards that he thought that we scored too early although I am not sure when would have been a better time to score that day!”
“My sister got very excited when she was driving and listening to the game on the radio as she thought she heard that it was me that scored the penalty and she went about telling everyone that was the case. It was a wee while later that she realised that it was actually Paul that had scored.”
Turner, who combines playing with working as a delivery driver with the Records Management Company, Iron Mountain, said: “We also lost 6-2 to Rangers at our place in a game that was televised live by RangersTV.tv and we are going to be playing them live on ESPN so it really is some turnaround to playing at Loretto.”
As for Links Park this weekend, Turner said: “We played Montrose just before Christmas and drew 2-2 and I scored twice. However, I missed a few sitters before I found the net. We had a great result up at Elgin in a game where I did score a penalty in a 4-3 win and that was great as we got a couple of going overs there last season.
“We then played well against Queen’s Park and were unlucky to lose 2-0. That is the way this Third Division goes. Anyone can beat anyone and hopefully, we can get a few more wins between now and the end of the season.”
Head Coach, John Coughlin, is delighted to have his skipper with him for another year as he said: “Kevin is a big player for us and he has enjoyed being here. He is also grateful that we gave him a chance at senior level and it is nice that he wants to repay that opportunity by staying with us despite the attention he had from elsewhere. He is a match winner for us and Elgin boss Ross Jack was raving about him after our win up there recently.
“He is also a very important guy to have in the dressing room and on the pitch as his team-mates respect him because he is a good player and because of the work he puts in. We have started making plans for next season and knowing Kevin will be part of those plans is great news.”
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