Dave Turner

Dr. David Binnie Turner... soccer family (brother Bill)... he was 11 years old when he moved with his family to Edmonton in 1914... married his wife Margaret Swanson in 1937 (they had dauhgters)... he was 85 years old when he passed away in Victoria on 6 April 1989... in Edmonton and Camrose, he worked as a school teacher... he and George Graham worked for the T. Eaton Co. (financial office) while they were members of the Eaton-sponsored Toronto Ulster United FC... earned his Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture (1933), BA (1936), and MA (1944) from the University of British Columbia... in New Westminster, worked as a teacher at Duke of Connaught High School... was bestowed a PhD in 1947 from Cornell University for his work on Conservation of Natural Resources... worked as director of conservation for the British Columbia department of lands and forests... attended the 1966 FIFA World Cup England...

posthumously honoured by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame as a player (one of the first 11 former players honoured as part of The Soccer Hall of Fame’s inaugural Class of 2000)... honoured by Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, in fact one of the inaugural inductees in the Class of 1955... honoured by the BC Sports Hall of Fame and posthumously honoured by the Soccer Hall of Fame of British Columbia... in 1950, was named Canadian soccer’s “Best in 50 Years” in a poll by The Canadian Press... in 1950, his 1929 team Westminster Royals was named Canadian soccer’s “Best in 50 Years” in a poll by The Canadian Press... in 1955, was part of the inaugural class honoured by Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame... as part of Canada Soccer’s Centennial in 2012, recognised in the Best XI from 50 Years (1912-1962)...

a four-time Dominion of Canada Football Championship winner (1928, 1930, 1931, 1936), in fact just the second four-time national winner...

as noted in 1927 in the Toronto Telegram, Turner’s “clever play in the Ulster forward line last season and his gentlemanly tactics made himself a great favourite with Toronto fans”... as noted in 1928 in the Winnipeg Free Press, he was “the daddy of them all (on Westminster Royals) and regarded as the best forward in Canada; his footwork is delightful, his shooting terrific with either foot, and around goal he is a terror with his head; as a schemer he is unsurpassed and to see him feinting and drawing the opposition toward him and then flick the ball to a teammate is uncanny; looks too big to be fast but his pace in the last yard is tremendous and completely fools the opposition”... wrote Jack Sullivan, Turner was a “tricky forward”... wrote teammate Austin Delany, Turner “was superbly built for his job as an inside forward... he was a tenacious, aggressive, but clean player with a glorious shot in both feet... he was as dazzling on the dribble as any forward”...

wrote Jack Knight in 1958, “some of his old (Westminster) teammates remember Dave as the team’s automatic captain who had a great presence with referees. Whenever the players fancied they had a beef with the officials or thought they must take up some point with the referee, the well-spoken, cool and collected Scot usually acted on their behalf”... said Turner in 1958, “I have always been an outdoors man. I have never felt happier then when I’ve been out in the wide open spaces, whether I have been engaged in working the land, fishing for coho, or just commuting with the natural wonders of our province”... also said Turner in 1958, “soccer is the greatest team game in the world. It plays down the individual and plays up combination and co-operation. It teaches follows to help one another and it provides the best lesson for citizenship”... wrote Hon. Ken Kiernan in 1968, “Dr. Turner has served his country and his province well - as a conservationist, an administrator, a sportsman, and an educator. He is a popular man and all who know him wish him well”... wrote Vince Leah in 1970, “the finest Canadian player I ever saw (was) Dave Turner of New Westminster Royals”...

said Turner in 1978 of joining Westminster Royals FC in 1927, owner “Fred Hume persuaded me to enter the University of British Columbia instead of returning to the United States. He also got me a job and loaned me a car”...