Billy Turley

William Lee Turley (born 15 July 1973) is an English retired football goalkeeper.

Billy Turley
Personal information
Full name William Lee Turley
Date of birth (1973-07-15) 15 July 1973
Place of birth Wolverhampton, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Evesham United
1995–1999 Northampton Town 28 (0)
1998 → Leyton Orient (loan) 19 (0)
1999–2005 Rushden & Diamonds 215 (0)
2005–2010 Oxford United 159 (0)
2010–2015 Brackley Town 144 (0)
Total 565 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

At Oxford United he was the first-choice goalkeeper under Jim Smith in the 2006–07 football season, ahead of Chris Tardif and continued to be during 2007–2009 under Darren Patterson and then Chris Wilder. He is liked by fans for his character and, despite the occasional error, including missing a penalty in the penalty shoot-out loss to Exeter in the playoff semi-final in 2007, has produced some crucial saves for Oxford United. His banter, with fans and players alike, has made him an iconic figure in the Oxford United goal.[1]

In 2002, while playing for Rushden & Diamonds, Turley became the first British footballer to test positive for an anabolic steroid. He escaped with only a warning from the Football Association (FA) after claiming that he had ingested the banned substance nandrolone unwittingly, suggesting that prescribed drugs could have triggered the positive result, and that a suspension would cause him distress due to personal problems.[2] However, in 2004 Turley tested positive for the banned recreational drug cocaine, and was this time sacked by Rushden & Diamonds and handed a six-month ban by the FA.[2][3] Richard Caborn, the sports minister at the time, questioned why the ban was not more severe, as in many other sports a second positive test would usually lead to a lifetime ban.[3] On 29 May 2010 Turley signed for Southern League Premier Division team Brackley Town.

References
  1. Oxford United | Fans | Q and A | BIlly Turley Q and A Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Football: Rushden keeper faces drug ban | Football | The Guardian
  3. Concern grows over FA's drugs policy | Football | The Guardian
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