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Players Index Page Last Updated
26 December 2022
 
 

Bobby Turnbull

Bradford AFC

1 appearance, 0 goals

P 1 W 0 D 1 L 0 F 1: A 1
50% successful

1919

captain: none
minutes played:
90

Timeline

  Robert Turnbull
There is no evidence of a middle name of Joseph
Birth 17 December 1895 at 79 Princess Street, South Bank, Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire [registered in Middlesbrough, January 1896].
 

According to the 1901 census, five year old Robert is the youngest of six children to John and Welsh-born Caroline, living at 79 Princess Street in the South Bank area of Middlebrough, His father is a lift engine driver.

 

According to the 1911 census, fifteen year old Robert is the only child from the six remaining children to be living with their widowed mother at 79 Princess Street and two boarders. Another five of the children had tragically died. Robert is an engine cleaner at the steelworks.

Marriage to Florence Thompson [registered in Middlesbrough, September 1919]. They had three children, John G. (b.1920), Doris (b.1922), Audrey E. (b.1929) and Norman (b.7 December 1932)
  According to the 1921 census, Robert, a professional footballer (for Bradford AFC), is now married to Florence, and with two children, Robert and John George, they are living at 45 Oliver Street in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough with his wife's parents, John and Sarah Ellen Thompson  
According to passenger lists, Turnbull, along with other footballers, was part of a tour of South Africa that returned to Southampton on 5 August 1929 from Cape Town on board the SS Arundel Castle. His address was stated as 45 Oliver Street in South Bank, Middlesbrough.
"ROBERT TURNBULL'S FAMILY SAID TO BE DESTITUTE.
"The South Bank (North Yorks) Bench to-day issued a warrant for the arrest of Robert Turnbull, the Leeds United and English international, who failed to answer a summons for wife maintenance arrears.
"The case was adjourned a fortnight ago and in the meantime Turnbull was warned to pay off arrears or attend the court. The police court missionary stated that Turnbull's [wife and two children] was absolutely destitute and that there was not a particle of food in the house when it was visited."
- Thursday, 22 October 1931, Derby Daily Telegraph
  According to the 1939 register, Robert, a fireman at the steelworks, is still married, and they still live at 45 Oliver Street, along with at least one of their children, Norman.
Death 18 March 1952, aged 56 years 92 days [registered in Cleveland, March 1952].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s) Played schoolboy football in South Bank, before playing for the local junior club, South Bank East End FC. He signed youth forms with Chesterfield FC before the war curtailed his career. After playing army football, Turnbull signed for Bradford AFC in January 1918. Despite breaking his toe in early 1923, he completed 207 league appearanances, amassing 47 goals. Leeds United AFC signed Turnbull in May 1925, where he made another 204 league appearances, and scored another 45 goals. Spent a season with Rhyl Athletic FC after signing for them on 15 September 1932, before retiring at the season's completion.
Club honours Football League Division Three North runners-up 1921-22; Division Two runners-up 1927-28, 1931-32;
Individual honours None
Distinctions None
Height/Weight 5' 7½", 12st. 3lbs [1922]. Described by newspaper reports as a "light-haired Adonis from South Bank".

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & doingthe92.com.

England Career

Player number One of seven who became the 383rd players (387) to appear for England.
Position(s) Outside-right
First match No. 120, 25 October 1919, Ireland 1 England 1, a British Championship match at Windsor Park, Donegall Avenue, Belfast, aged 23 years 312 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1919-20;
Team honours None
Individual honours England victory (three appearances, 1919), FA Tour of South Africa 1920 and 1929;
Distinctions None

Beyond England

A steel worker at Dormans before and after his football career. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.251.

 

Bobby Turnbull - Career Statistics
Squads Apps comp. apps Mins. Goals goals ave.min comp. goals Capt. Disc.
1 1 1 90 0 0 min 0 none none
minutes are an approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stick to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors.

 

Bobby Turnbull - Match Record - All Matches - By Type of Match
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Away - British Championship 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
All 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0

 

Bobby Turnbull - Match Record - Tournament Matches
British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1919-20 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
BC All 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
All 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0

 

Bobby Turnbull - Match History
 Club: Bradford A.F.C. - 1 full cap

F.A. International Select Committee - 1 full capx

Age 23
1 120 25 October 1919 - Ireland 1 England 1, Windsor Park, Belfast BC AD Start or

Notes

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CG