Successful: Arthur Turner

Arthur Turner was a very successful manager at both Birmingham and Oxford.

Potteries born, Arthur was a forceful skipper with a top flight Stoke team which included a young Stanley Matthews. He was transferred to Birmingham just prior to the war and returned to play at the age of 37 in the FA Cup semi final of 1946. Nearing 39, he became Southport's player-manager before managing Crewe.

He returned to Stoke as assistant manager before in November 1954, again moving from there to St Andrew's, this time to become manager. He led them to the (old) Second Division title in his first season and to their highest ever league position the following term when they ended just four points adrift of the country's second best club. Turner was the first manager to take an English club side into European competition.

City reached the semi-final of the forerunner of the UEFA cup, the Fairs Cup. He also took them to the 1956 FA Cup final.

Despite presiding over the Blues' still best ever spell, Arthur resigned at the end of 1958. He soon moved to the Manor without signing a contract (on January 1, 1959). A few months later, top flight Leeds offered him the manager's job, but staggeringly, United matched their salary and retained Turner's services.

He brought in many young players from top flight clubs. Among these were the men on whom United's rapid rise would depend. These included the Atkinsons, Tony Jones, Maurice Kyle and Cyril Beavon.

Turner struggled in 1968-69

With Arthur in charge, United changed their name to Oxford United, won consecutive Southern League titles and entered the Football League all in little over three years. Within six more years, they had become the first Fourth Division side to reach the last eight of the FA Cup, won promotion to the (old) Third Division and won the championship of that section. Their rise from non-leaguers to the (old) Second Division was more rapid than Wimbledon's was to be.

Without the money to strengthen an ageing side, Turner struggled in 1968-69. Just prior to his 60th birthday, Arthur moved 'upstairs' to become General Manager. He was dismissed from this post at the age of 63.

Arthur remained active and was scouting for Sheffield Wednesday until soon before his death when in his 80s. Many memories of Arthur are of a very able and sharp disciplinarian who believed in the quality of loyalty.

History compiled by Andy Howland

History compiled by Andy Howland