George Turkington

Despite an impressive debut hat-trick Lurgan striker George Turkington failed to make an impact during his solitary season at the Showgrounds.

Born in Lurgan, George’s footballing journey began relatively late as he first appeared in junior circles during the 1926/1927 season for local side Hillview and quickly became one of the leading scorers in the Portadown league – before progressing quickly to join Glenavon Reserves by the following season.

Having failed to breakthrough at Mourneview Park, the 25-year-old centre-forward got his senior debut at Ballymena in September 1930, having joined as an untested amateur, George would bag a hat-trick against Ards at Castlereagh Park on his Irish League bow. Despite a stunning first game, Turkington would only merit four more appearances for the Light Blues during the 1930/1931 campaign, the last coming again away at Ards, where he scored his fourth and final goal of a five-game career as a Braidman.

Turkington returned home to Glenavon in the summer of 1931 to rejoin Glenavon, but despite hopes of advancing his senior career, he was soon playing Intermediate football with another Lurgan team, Sunnyside, by the end of the 1931/1932 campaign. The following season he was starring for Dunmurry in the Intermediate League which attracted the interest of a few senior clubs – as he eventually joined Newry Town in January 1934 scoring three goals in three outings for the border side.

He would eventually finish his playing days back at Sunnyside and was eventually appointed as club secretary in August 1937 and remained a dedicated clubman.

George passed away in March 1984 in hospital in his native Lurgan, aged 78.

Career
Hillview, Glenavon, (Aug 1930) Ballymena, (Jul 1931) Glenavon, (1932) Sunnyside, (1933) Dunmurry, (Jan 1934) Newry Town, Sunnyside