Shrewsbury Town hero Graham Turner bows out with pride
He always said he would know when to go. Sadly, Graham Turner's eve-of-season prediction came true all too quickly.
Turner's decision to walk away from a club he has served so nobly and no little success in two spells spanning almost 15 years as player, coach, player-manager and twice as full-time boss was typical of the dignified way in which he went about his work.
But while the more critical of Shrewsbury Town's support will see his decision as the right one for the club moving forward, it is tinged with sadness that it couldn't end on a happier note.
For Turner was no ordinary manager, his sheer longevity not only marking him out as a real survivor in a ruthless trade, but reflecting his passion and enthusiasm for the game which shone proudly.
Born in the same Ellesmere Port town as his mentor Stan Cullis, the 66-year-old was the longest-serving full-time manager in the British game with 35 years' service, although, with typical modesty, he claimed he was some way short of the milestone as he was out of work for 16 months between leaving Wolves and joining Hereford.
And despite his stellar achievements in leading Wolves back from the brink, there cannot have been anyone prouder to have managed Shrewsbury Town, whether in his fresh-faced 30s or as a thoroughbred in his 60s. It's little surprise either: Three promotions, an equal record high league finish, two club record-equalling FA Cup campaigns, two record unbeaten home seasons and a string of top signings that served the club so well down the years.
And who could forget the tactical 'game-changer' he introduced to a spellbound TV audience in the late 70s – the near-post corner, which wrongfooted many defences?
He claimed two of his five greatest ever signings as a manager were for Town, towering centre-half Nigel Pearson from non-league Heanor Town in November 1981 and goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic plus cash in exchange for Bob Wardle from Liverpool in August 1982.
So many others flourished under his tutelage after either being signed by him or developed by him: Ian Atkins, Steve Cross, Paul Maguire, Steve Biggins, David Moyes and Bernard McNally among them.
And he recalled of one of his finest ever results, Newcastle 0 Shrewsbury 1, in August 1983: "I remember driving away from the ground on the coach and there were grown men crying on the steps of St James' Park, as if to say 'how can Newcastle lose to little Shrewsbury?'"
It was a decade earlier, in January 1973, that his love affair with Town began – when he was signed from Chester City for £35,000 by Maurice Evans as a replacement for Manchester United-bound Jim Holton.
As a player in blue and amber, Turner made over 350 League appearances.
An important part of Alan Durban's side promoted to the Third Division in 1974-75 as runners-up, he was made player-coach under Durban's successor Richie Barker then player-manager – caretaker-boss from November 1978 – in time for Town's next promotion. They were Third Division champions, sealing promotion with a 4–1 win over Exeter City in front of 14,000 fans at a packed Gay Meadow on May 17, 1979.
Turner also led them to their equal record FA Cup run, reaching the quarter-finals – beating Mansfield, Doncaster, Cambridge, top-flight Manchester City and Aldershot after a replay before succumbing to Wolves in another replay.
They also won the Welsh Cup, beating Wrexham 2-1 on aggregate over two legs.
In 1981-82, Shrewsbury reached the FA Cup quarter-finals again, memorably toppling UEFA Cup holders Ipswich 2-1 in the fifth round.
But it wasn't just in the cups that Town excelled. Shrewsbury's halcyon period of the 1980s saw Turner establish the side in the second tier, leading them to their equal highest-ever finish of eighth in 1983-84. He eventually hung up his boots in April 1984, when his appearance in a 4-2 win against Charlton was his 650th in the League.
During those years, Town regularly went toe-to-toe with current Premier League clubs such as Chelsea, who they did the double against twice under Turner, and Newcastle, who they never lost to at the Meadow in five meetings, winning four. Fast-forward 26 years, and after a rollercoaster ride managing Villa, Wolves and Hereford, Turner returned as Shrewsbury manager on June 11 2010, replacing Paul Simpson.
His first season back saw Town finish fourth. They lost 2-0 on aggregate to Torquay in the play-off semi-final.
But the following season he guided Shrewsbury to the runners-up spot behind Swindon and automatic promotion to League One – their first time back in the third tier for 15 years.
The club set a record number of points, 88, and were unbeaten at home.
After stabilising in 16th last season, hopes were high of challenging for the top half of the table this term after increased investment in the squad. But seven defeats in their last 10 saw Turner leave Town in 19th place, a place and a point above the drop zone. And Crewe's 2-0 victory over MK Dons last night has left managerless Town in the relegation zone.
It was a sad way to end a very proud career. But everyone with Shrewsbury Town at heart should thank Graham Turner for what he achieved for the club.
