Tony Turner (Society Member 1971- 2024): Obituary
Tony Turner joined the Society on 1st September 1971 and he received his salver marking 50 years of membership on 2nd November 2021 at the same meeting as long-time colleague David Hudson. In between those dates Tony Turner made a remarkable contribution to refereeing at the highest domestic level, both as a Referee and as a Referee Coach.
Tony receives his salver to mark 50 years’ service from President Clive Ennis in 2021
If memory serves, Tony played Hooker at Vulcan and Aspull, maintaining a long association thereafter with Aspull RUFC. On taking up refereeing with the Society, Tony attained membership of what was then known as the County Panel of Referees, along with other distinguished members of the Society – David Hudson; George Seddon; Colin High; David Leslie and Gus Thompson. From there Tony progressed to the top ten of English Referees and, at his peak, he was a top five member along with the late Roger Quittenton and Jonny Johnson.
After his refereeing career ended he became involved in Referee Coaching at the elite level and could count among his coached Referees Wayne Barnes; Nigel Yates and Tim Miller. Following a successful period as a Referee Coach, Tony became a TMO and Timekeeper in the professional game – including at least one International match at Twickenham as Timekeeper, I know because I was there.
That is a very potted history of Tony’s achievements at the highest levels of the Game. But what of Tony the Society man?
When I joined the Society we ran a New Referees Course jointly with the Liverpool Society. Along with President David Guerin and Past Chairman Geoff Cove I reported to Liverpool St Helens FC to begin to learn the arts of refereeing from Tony Turner; David Leslie; David Matthews; and Fred Howard. Tony took the Scrum session and told a story which illustrated his approach to refereeing a dominant scrum. The front row of a Lancashire Club was totally dominant over a visiting Club. Tony asked the dominant prop for his help in solving the problem: “put him where you need to, not where you want to”. However, at the next scrum, down went the weaker prop and Tony blew the whistle for the penalty. “Thanks Tony” ays the dominant prop. Tony replies: “No Sammy. It’s against you. I asked you to help and you didn’t!”
Tony was often a presenter of a topic at Society meetings in the 90s. One of his many claims to fame was that he was the first presenter that I can remember who used film clips as the basis of his presentation. I have a clear memory of members standing on chairs at Heywood Road to be able to see a small screen on which were projected the film clips – innovative at that time but now routine.
Tony was always willing to engage in a conversation about refereeing and without fail had an opinion on the refereeing issues of the day (including the alternative version of the Game which starts with 13 players a side). It is perhaps his glass half empty view on some Referees and some refereeing issues which earned him the nickname “Doom”, used, always affectionately, by those who knew him well.
Tony became very seriously ill some years ago but fought back to be able to walk from home to Aspull RUFC and back. He was usually to be found on the far (unpopulated) side of the pitch and it was a joy to exchange observations with him on the match and, of course, the refereeing of the match. Tony was a very shrewd judge of a Referee but, as someone who knew him well said to me “He was understated, you had to seek him out, he did not push himself to the front, ever. He was a very loyal and excellent human being”.
Even though he was active at the highest level of the domestic Game over such a long period Tony still played an important part in the life of the Society. Those of us who knew will remember him with respect; admiration; and affection, but it is fitting that the Society should celebrate in these few words a remarkable member of the Society.
Roger Bowden
Hon. Life Member, Former Chairman and Former President
Manchester & District Rugby Union Referees’ Society