This morning we have the very pleasant duty of wishing our member, former two times Sky Blues central defender Ben Turner, a ‘Very Happy’ 36th Birthday today.
Brummie born (on 21st August 1988) Ben came up through the Academy ranks at CCFC starting in the Under 17s in 2003 and made his Championship debut as a sub for the Sky Blues on 22nd April 2006 in a 1-0 defeat at Stoke City. He also gained an England U19 cap whilst with City in 2007.
Though sent off on his home League debut v. West Bromwich Albion in late April 2007 (after two cup appearances earlier in the season), by the time he left for Cardiff City in August 2011 he had notched up 72 first team league appearances for the Sky Blues, scoring four goals (plus twelve appearances in other competitions) which might have been more but for a knee injury.
He also had loan spells with both Peterborough United in 2006 (ten appearances) and Oldham Athletic (2007 – one appearance) whilst at the Ricoh.
Signing a three-year deal with Cardiff City for reportedly £750k Ben made his debut for the Bluebirds in September 2011. In 2012 he scored a dramatic League Cup Final equaliser against Liverpool at Wembley which the Bluebirds eventually lost on penalties. Ben was an integral part of the Welsh side that won the Championship title that season but, after only one campaign, Ben saw relegation with the Bluebirds and then missed most of the subsequent season due to injury. Ben came back to join the Sky Blues on loan in as a means of helping him recover from that injury in November 2013 and he promptly scored in his first appearance back at the Ricoh.
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