Alan Turner

DOB: 1st January 1953

Position: Midfielder

Season of first appearance: 1974/75

Season of last appearance: 1979/80

Full Appearances: 54

Substitute: 4

Goals: 4

Also played for:

Ramsgate Athletic, Canterbury City, Ramsgate and Deal Town.

Player Profile:

Locally-born player who began his career with Ramsgate during the 1971/72 season, mainly as a reserve team player.

Alan joined Margate for the 1974/75 campaign and was a regular in the reserves during the season. He also made five first-team appearances (one as sub), making his debut in a 5-0 win over Folkestone & Shepway at Hartsdown Park on 18.2.75.

During the 1975/76 campaign, Alan made a further 17 first-team appearances (two as sub), usually playing in midfield or as a striker, and scored twice. The first of his goals was a fine header in a 6-2 win over Cambridge City at Hartsdown Park on 6.12.75 and Alan was described as being "a useful prospect" by the local press. He also created what the Thanet Times said was "a favourable impression" when pressed into service as a centre-back for a 3-1 home win over Weymouth on 10.4.76.

Alan spent most of the 1976/77 season on loan at Canterbury and he made ten Southern League appearances without scoring for City during the campaign. He returned to Hartsdown Park in March 1977 and went on to make 11 appearances in the closing months of the season as Margate were relegated from the Southern League Premier Division. Alan then left the club and rejoined Ramsgate before moving on to Deal.

In the summer of 1979, Alan returned to Margate and he made 26 appearances during the 1979/80 season. He usually played in midfield but also appeared as a right-back, centre-back and striker during the campaign. On 26.12.79, Alan broke his nose in a 3-1 defeat at home to Folkestone & Shepway. He scored once, in a 2-1 win over Addlestone on 11.9.79, but left the club at the end of the season.

Alan again linked up with Ramsgate and spent the 1979/80 campaign at Southwood before dropping into local football for the 1980/81 season. He rejoined the Rams once more for the 1981/82 campaign.

Alan played the last football of his career during the 1990's when he turned out for Thanet League club Margate Athletic Old Boys whose squad of veterans also included a host of other former Margate/Thanet players.