Turner, Patrick

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Fullname: Patrick Turner
aka: Paddy Turner
Born: 1940
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Signed: 31 May 1963 (from Morton)
Left: 16 June 1964 (to Glentoran)
Position: Inside right
Debut: Celtic 0-3 Rangers, League Cup, 10 Aug 1963
Internationals: Ireland
International Caps: 2
International Goals: 0

Biog

Paddy Turner was an Irish international who signed for Celtic from Morton in May 1963. Prior to playing for Morton he was a motor mechanic by trade.

The former Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers inside right was a cultured player and seemed to have settled well in Scotland producing some fine displays for the Cappielow club. However his debut in the Hoops was one to forget as the Bhoys lost 3-0 to Rangers at Parkhead in a League Cup tie on 10th August 1963.

He had a poor record in his games v Rangers, three defeats, eight goals conceded. Excluding these games, he actually only played in one other game lost, a 2-1 defeat to St Mirren. His two goals came in a 4-0 win over Queen of the South and a 4-4 draw with Third Lanark in the league (although some sources state this as a Rugg own goal as Rugg deflected a Turner cross past his own keeper). So really it was Rangers who dented his record.

In that 4-0 victory over Queen of the South game, he came out for praise in the match report:

“Turner whose arrival at Parkhead had been anything but suspicious showed that he is a sound footballer. His fine distribution was the feature of a one-sided game.”

Unfortunately for Turner his arrival at Parkhead coincided with the emergence of Bobby Murdoch and despite being more than a fair player himself, Paddy was always going to be second choice behind the wonderful talent of Murdoch. He was replaced by Bobby Murdoch early in season 1963/64, and his final few appearances were playing as a makeshift for Bobby Murdoch when out. Add in the shambles that was Celtic at that time prior to Stein’s arrival in 1965, it was never to help any aspiring footballers like Paddy Turner.

Consequently after little more than one year and 14 games Paddy found himself playing predominantly Reserve football with the ‘A’ Reserves through much of the 1963-64 season.

At the end of the season he headed back across the Irish Sea to play for Glentoran, sold by Celtic for £1000. He had stated that for domestic reasons he would not be returning to Celtic Park for the 1964-65 season and Celtic therefore made his fee a nominal sum with a rider on any future transfers.

Post-Celtic

Despite the lack of success at an admittedly poor Celtic, he achieved some success later on. Having moved to Dundalk in 1966, he was to be a long-term player with the club helping them to win the League of Ireland in 1966/67, whilst at the same time Celtic went on to win the European Cup & domestic treble in Scotland.

Later he moved on to play with Bohemians before hanging up his boots.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

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