TURN-ING ATTENTIONS TO A NEW CHALLENGE

THERE was a time, not too long ago, when Stephen Turnbull was at the centre of attention in the world of Non-League football.

In front of the Match of the

Day cameras in December 2014, the midfielder’s sublime free-kick inspired an unlikely comeback to help Blyth Spartans dump Hartlepool United out of the FA Cup.

Turnbull has moved on from Spartans since his moment in the spotlight and is now hoping to take centrestage on and off the pitch with Northern Premier League East new-boys Morpeth Town.

The 31-year-old is in the final stages of rehabilitation from a serious knee injury that has kept him out of the game for the last 12 months.

Now, this season, Turnbull steps into the dugout alongside the FA Vase-winning manager Nick Gray as he takes on a player-assistant manager role.

Coaching was always something on Turnbull’s agenda, but he admitted that one day he would like to be a manager in his own right and hinted that a managerial partnership with his brother – South Shields midfielder Phil Turnbull – could be in the offing.

“Football is all I have ever known,” explained the former Hartlepool midfielder. “I want to use what I have learnt during my career as I move into coaching.

“I have played under some brilliant managers and coaches like Mick Tait and Tom Wade and I have played under some that weren’t so good.

“I like to think I have taken something from all of them, whether it is good or bad.

“I have missed playing and I can’t wait to get back, but I am excited by moving into coaching as well as playing.

Experience

“I would like to move into a club as a manager one day, maybe working alongside Phil somewhere.

“I think that I always do the right thing; I believe in what I am doing and I have that confidence.

“I think you need that single-minded attitude as a manager now.

“I have learnt a lot since I played in the Football League and I think, one day, I will be ready to take on a manager’s role somewhere.”

This season presents a new challenge for Turnbull and Morpeth Town. After securing promotion into the new-look NPL League East last season, the Highwaymen are preparing for their firstever season at Step 4 of the Non-League pyramid

Their squad is packed with players that have experience of the higher echelons of the pyramid including former Watford and York City striker Liam Henderson, and former Gateshead midfielder Wayne Phillips.

That gives Turnbull confidence that the Craik Park club will be looking to challenge at the right end of the table come the end of the season.

“We can be successful and I’ve been in these leagues and all respect to them, but they aren’t great.

“With the squad we have, if we are organised and the players listen to the coaching staff, we will be there or thereabouts.

“It’s not being cocky or arrogant, it’s just a fact that we have a great squad and we can challenge at the right end of the table.”