Former England youth star Lucy Turner looks back on her time with the Three Lions with a huge amount of pride.
Called up to multiple Under-15s and Under-16s squads back in her teens, the defender made her debut against Germany, gaining invaluable experience at a young age that has helped mould her into the stern centre-half she is today.
It is a family thing for Turner. Sister Amy, now of Tottenham Hotspur – the latest of an impressive selection of Women’s Super League clubs on her CV – has gone on to earn four full caps for the Lionesses.
“Driving to games on Saturdays and Sundays back then was tough,” the 31-year-old explains. Growing up in an unsurprisingly football-mad household in the Steel City, the sport meant absolutely everything.
“When I was younger, you had to play for a Centre of Excellence as well as a Saturday league team. So, I actually played for Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United at the same time. My family were big Blades fans, so I used to wear my Sheffield United shirt under my Wednesday shirt!”
The hard work and crossing that divide every weekend paid dividends for the fledgling defender, paving her way through the Bramall Lane Academy set-up before England came calling.
“To say that I have done it, at such a young age, I think is always something that I will look back on and be proud of. I followed in my sister’s footsteps which was nice.”
After coming through the Sheffield United ranks, Turner then switched to Doncaster Rovers Belles, competing in the second tier of the women’s game aged just 17.
From there, a break from football followed due to university, before she was again on the move, this time joining Barnsley.
Like many of her teammates, balancing playing alongside a full-time career can be challenging, she admits, but the sport and Lucy’s job go hand in hand.
From representing the Whites on the weekend to day-to-day life, football is an ever-present, with the 31-year-old working for a fellow Yorkshire club’s academy setup, teaching scholars as part of their BTEC courses.
“I am around it all the time, to be fair,” she laughs. “I don’t mind it, though. I worked at Barnsley before as well, so I have always been in similar roles at different clubs.”
It was with the Tykes, back on the field as opposed to in the classroom, that Leeds moved to sign Turner from in 2023, where she has since gone on to become an integral member of United’s backline as they look to compete for promotion to the Northern Premier Division.
“I think it was probably the personnel that were there and it being a more established club. It was something that I thought if I didn’t do it then, I probably would never have made the move. Barnsley were a little bit of a comfort zone, closer to home.
“I knew Kath Smith, I have known her most of my life, and she played here and wanted me to join. We are still playing together now and I haven’t looked back since!”
Alongside the midfielder, and several other former Barnsley teammates, Simon Wood’s side have competed towards the top of the FA WNL Division One North standings, vying for the sole promotion spot.
Last time out, in swirling rain and freezing winds, the Whites twice fought from a goal behind – the ultimate equaliser coming in the 88th minute – to earn a point on the road against Durham Cestria.
Despite the spirit shown by Leeds to not come away empty handed, Turner was still frustrated after the full-time whistle to not take all three points back from the North East, but believes that is testament to how far the squad have progressed in recent months.
“I think the standards are a lot higher this year in the league and obviously in our team,” she added. “The club recruited well over the summer and throughout the season to add strength and depth.
“We go into every game knowing we can win it, which previously I don’t think maybe we have had that luxury. I think with the personnel that we have got, we aim to win each game and everyone is on the same page with that. So, there is always disappointment when we don’t get the three points and that is a collective across the group.”
Lucy has seen first-hand within her family the progression of the women’s game and the pathways it can offer, now more than ever. The successes on the world stage of the Lionesses has been integral to that, she believes, and those paving the way today can inspire the stars of tomorrow.
“I think especially young girls are now seeing that it is a possible career. Obviously, I work in education and I have seen the growth in girls wanting to study sport as well as play it and that wasn’t something that I could do when I was younger.
“Our football is really accessible for people to come to on a Sunday. People can come and still watch a really good standard of football and have photos, meet the team and get shirts signed. We absolutely love it.
“For those coming into the game, I would say that things don’t happen overnight and hard work goes a long way. Staying positive and making sure that you have got a good foundation around you is massive. You can go as far as you want to go!”
The defender, whose drive and ambition took her as far as representing her country, leads by example on the pitch. From competing with Germany, to pulling on the white shirt of Leeds United, Turner is still hungry for more.
Leeds United Women continue their FAWNL campaign on Sunday as they face Huddersfield Town away from home. Read our match preview HERE.
