SHIELDS OF GLORY FOR TURNBULL
COMING HOME seems to be a trend this summer. The hysteria surrounding England’s World Cup adventure has seen Skinner and Baddiel’s ‘Three Lions’ going viral and the belief that “Football’s coming home” seems to be growing.
But coming home isn’t limited to the top end of the game. Darlington midfielder Phil Turnbull is also heading back to his roots after joining hometown club South Shields.
The former Gateshead star completed a move back to the ambitious Mariners in May and he described the move as “perfect”.
“I am delighted to be at the club because it is something I have always wanted to do,” said Turnbull.
“Even before the recent success, I always wanted to play for the club.
“When I was a kid I used to deliver the Shields Gazette and I always used to read pieces about the club.
“Obviously when I played elsewhere I always kept an eye out for them and followed what was happening.
“Things have picked up and when they showed an interest I had to try and make it happen.
“Darlington and South Shields made the deal happen and it’s the perfect move for me.”
Turnbull has been impressed with what he has seen at his new club.
The Mariners are one of Non-League football’s real success stories and they are targeting a fourth successive promotion when they kick-off their Evo-Stik Northern Premier League campaign in August.
However, the former Darlington midfielder believes that promotion into the National League North wouldn’t be the end of their ambitions.
“I genuinely believe this club will be in the Football League in the next five to ten years,” he said.
“You see some people put money into clubs, they have a surge and they have a little bit of success but then it falls away.
“The Shields chairman is ambitious but the town has also bought into what is going on here.
“The supporters are important and they are getting behind the club in a big way.
“I saw what having the town behind you can do when I was at Hartlepool United.
“We have momentum and we have great players.
“You can see the likes of Craig Baxter and Jon Shaw dropped down the leagues to play for this club because they knew they would have success and play a part in something unique.
“These are National League players and they aren’t the only ones we have. “Promotion is the target and there is no reason why it can’t happen
for us.”