 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexander Turnbull | ||
| Date of birth | (1884-07-30)30 July 1884 | ||
| Place of birth | Hurlford, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 3 May 1917(1917-05-03) (aged 32) | ||
| Place of death | Arras, France | ||
| Position | Inside forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Hurlford Thistle | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1902–1906 | Manchester City | 110 | (53) |
| 1906–1915 | Manchester United | 220 | (90) |
| →Rochdale (guest) | |||
| →Clapton Orient (guest) | |||
| Total | 330 | (143) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Alexander "Sandy" Turnbull (30 July 1884 – 3 May 1917) was a Scottishfootballer who played as aforward for bothManchester City andManchester United in the early 20th century. He waskilled in action during theFirst World War.
Born inHurlford to James and Jessie Turnbull of 1 Gibson Street,Kilmarnock,Ayrshire, Turnbull started his football career with his hometown club, Hurlford Thistle. He later moved toManchester City. In 1905, City was found guilty ofmalpractice relating to payments of its players, and the entire squad was suspended from playing football. When the ban was lifted on 31 December 1906, Turnbull moved to City's crosstown rivalsManchester United, along withBilly Meredith,Herbert Burgess andJimmy Bannister. His first game for United came on the next day, 1 January 1907, againstAston Villa. Along with Meredith, he helped the club to their first championship in 1908 and the 1909FA Cup, scoring the only goal in the final, against Bristol City. In 1908 alone, he would score 27 goals in 25 games. On 19 February 1910, Turnbull scored the first ever goal atOld Trafford, in a 4–3 loss againstLiverpool. He would go on to score 100 goals for the club in 245 games. His final game for the Reds came againstSheffield United in 1915.
Turnbull received a lifelong ban from football in 1915 along with several others players after being found guilty ofmatch-fixing.[1] He was posthumously re-instated in 1919.
Turnbull enlisted in the 23rd Battalion of theMiddlesex Regiment (2nd Football Battalion) during theFirst World War before being transferred to the 8th Battalion of theEast Surrey Regiment. After being promoted to the rank oflance sergeant, Turnbull was killed during theBattle of Arras on 3 May 1917 aged 32. Turnbull's body, if recovered, was never identified. He is commemorated on the Arras memorial.[2]
Turnbull was married and had four children. Two of Turnbull's sons, Alexander Jr. and Ronald, signed amateur forms with Manchester United in August 1932, but neither managed to follow in their father's footsteps and they were released before making an appearance for the club.[3]
