From Thatcham Tornadoes B to England skipper

The 22-year old Forest Green Rovers defender is captain of the England C team and was last week named as its Player of the Year at the celebrations to open the 150th anniversary of the English FA, receiving his award from former Arsenal and England defender Sol Campbell, one of his playing idols, and was joined as a winner by full England star Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson of the under 21s.
Turley skippered his country against Turkey a few days previously, and in midweek was back to shoring up the Forest Green defence in a 4-1 win over Braintree that keeps Green in third spot in the Blue Square Bet Premier League with promotion to the Football League on the cards.
“It’s all so close there,” said Turley, “and we need to keep winning.”
Winning the England award came as a surprise after he was summoned to the ceremony at St. George’s Park. “It was amazing, really,” he said. “I went with my manager and I knew I was nominated for clubman of the year.
“But it hit me that I had won this when they showed the highlights reel.”
Turley has been called into the England squad six times and was named as captain two games ago. His club career started as a youngster with Reading before being offered professional terms at Wycombe Wanderers. There followed a move to Salisbury City and thence to Forest Green, who used to ply their trade alongside Newbury Town in the Hellenic League.
Now they are on the brink of the Football League while still operating from a hill above the small town of Nailsworth, near Stroud.
“It’s a tiny club really, of course,” said Turley, “but financially it is a big club. “Our chairman - Dale Vince - is always coming up with new ideas and something is happening all the time. He banned meat at the club, of course, so we don’t eat horse!
“I’m enjoying it, and I’m contracted here until I’m 24.”
Turley is full-time at The ultra-modern New Lawn ground but would like to break into the Football League, even if Forest Green do not make it.
“That’s my main aim,” he said, “to get as high as possible. I think that ability-wise, I’m confident that I can play at a higher level, so it’s down to someone buying me if Forest Green don’t make it, although I think we can.”
Turley attended St. Mary’s, Spurcroft and Kennet Schools and his family still lives in Thatcham.
He still remembers his boyhood team: “I first played at Thatcham Tornadoes for the under seven B team. They wouldn’t let me in the A team!”