Gordon Turner

Gordon Reginald Turner (7 June 1930 – 23 December 1976) was an English footballer, who was best known as a Luton Town centre forward. He is Luton Town's all-time top goalscorer, with 243 in the League and 276 overall.

Football career

Luton Town

Born in Hull, but raised in Doncaster from the age of four, the son of a Hull City professional footballer, Turner began his own footballing career as a right sided midfielder. During his national service in the Royal Navy, two Chief Petty Officers, both Lutonians, saw his raw talent and tipped off Dally Duncan, the manager of Luton Town. Duncan happened to know the teenage Turner's father, having played alongside him for Hull—whether or not this influenced his judgement, Turner was signed on as an apprentice in 1949.

He made his debut on 9 December 1950, in a 4–1 defeat at Coventry City, playing in midfield. However, the following season, he was given the opportunity to play up front and soon began scoring many goals, including a hat-trick in his fourth game.