Graham golden to Hereford faithful

Dec 18 2008 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SATURDAY’S Galpharm showdown between Town and Hereford pits English football’s newest manager against its second longest-serving.

Lee Clark was just six when Graham Turner took charge of his first match after his appointment by Shrewsbury in November 1978.

Thirty years on, the 61-year-old is still going strong, with this season the 14th at the Edgar Street helm for the man who has also managed Aston Villa and Wolves.

Only Manchester United supremo Sir Alex Ferguson has been in charge of his club for longer than Turner, who has topped 1,500 matches as a manager.

He’s approaching the 700 mark at Hereford, where he is also chairman, having purchased a majority shareholding during a financial crisis.

Born in Ellesmere Port, centre-back Turner was signed by Wrexham in 1964, going on to play more than 700 matches in a career which also took in Chester and Shrewsbury.