When Michael Turner first signed for Morpeth Town, the Highwaymen had Northern League ambitions.
Playing familiar foes home and away, being home by 7pm from your longest away day and knowing exactly what to expect from each team.
After playing in the same leagues as your rivals for a number of years, there’s a feeling of familiarity and comfort.
By the time Turner strode out for his 250th appearance in Highwaymen amber and black on Wednesday night, ironically at Northern League Newcastle Benfield, the whole landscape of the club had changed.
No more Northern League rivals, no more early home times from away days, and a trail of victories, cleansheets and trophies. It has been some five years!
The grounds of Craik Park have changed beyond all recognition. A new state of the art synthetic surface, a newly built stand, and a marquee overlooking the pitch.
Suffice to say, progress has been made off the pitch and matched by the endeavours on it.
During Turner’s time, Morpeth have won promotion to NPL East, and won it at the first time of asking and in some style. They added the Techflow Marine Senior Cup to that thanks to a memorable win over North Shields at St James’ Park.
“My favourite season was the 18/19 season when we won the league and won the Senior Cup at St James’ Park,” the defender said.
“It was a great season for many reasons but purely winning the league and beating my home town team in the final at St James’ was something that will stick with me.
“I didn’t expect us to win the league that season because it was a new league and we didn’t know what to expect from many of the teams.
“But we ended up winning with something like a 12-point lead so that was a massive bonus.
“I’ve loved every minute of my time here. From the days of training on the common to training on the facilities we have now, I wouldn’t change any of it.
“We play a different style of play from when I first signed but that’s benefited the team in the long run.”
Turner was part of a formidable side that naturally aged of late and, after years together, needed reinvigorated.
A huge number of Highwaymen appearances left over the summer and a focus on younger players was brought to the fore by manager Craig Lynch.
It propelled Turner to the role of experienced role model in the squad, so it is interesting to get his perspective on the team’s recent struggles and upturn in fortunes.
“The new lads have brought something different to what we already had so that worked well,” he said when reflecting on the summer changes.
“Normally, a lot of changes disrupt a dressing room but we’ve stayed solid.
“Nothing really changed during that bad spell. We knew the talent of the group and what we are capable of so it was just sticking with the process and believing things would change.
“We were so close in a lot of the games; it was a lapse of concentration that lost us a few games but that happens in football and mistakes can be costly.
“It hurt the lads but I think that hurt played a factor in keeping going and hoping things changed.”
