Shan Turner has reflected fondly on her three years with Wolves Women following her departure from the club this summer.
The goalkeeper played 59 times and won three trophies for the Old Gold, highlighting the league and cup double in 2021/22 as her standout memory. Turner also achieved her dream of becoming a full international for Northern Ireland during her time at the club and has thanked her teammates, coaches and the fans for an unforgettable three seasons.
Although playing in between the sticks is what most will recognise her for, Turner further embedded herself in the community during her role working as a schools educator for the Wolves Foundation – something she says has made leaving the club even tougher, due to the impact she was having on inspiring the younger generation.
On reflecting on her time at the club
“Really positive. The best part of it was my first full season with us winning the league and winning the cup. The only disappointing part was losing out in the play-offs.
“The second season we were close enough to winning the league again, but just lost it on goal difference.
“Last season was a bit of an up and down season but I think I’ve got so many memories to take from the three years.
“We’ve won the cup twice, we’ve won the league and in my first year I got the golden glove in the league so nothing but positives.”
On making her Northern Ireland debut while at Wolves
“That was my initial goal – to get back involved and become a full international. That first season was a bit of a crazy one towards the end of it.
“Coming off the end of losing the play-offs and being invited over to join up with the Northern Ireland squad and then ending up at the Euros a month later was all a bit surreal.
“I can only thank the club for getting me to that position – Hugh (McCluskie), Hitch (Nick Hitchman), and Macca (Dan McNamara). All of the support the coaches and club have given me.
“It’s something everyone dreams of when you’re younger – to represent your country. To do that is something I’ll never forget and a memory that’ll stay with me forever.
“To have those six caps that I’ve got and hopefully at some point gain a few more. It’s something you can never imagine when you’re little.”
“You think it’s never going to happen in your life. It was a surreal feeling.”
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) September 29, 2023
Shan Turner reflects on playing in front of 36,000 fans after returning from international duty.
🧤🗣 pic.twitter.com/ABqO572VEk
On her standout memories
“That first season. Winning the league in the first season and near enough going unbeaten all year – I think we lost one game in the league that year.
“Winning the cup and then just the whole season was unbelievable. It was a little bit of a downer that we didn’t win the play-offs, but that would be my biggest memory of being at the club.
“The opportunities you get being at the club is immense. Playing at Molineux, I think we’ve played there at least once every season, the league and cups we’ve won and then just the opportunities you get from playing at such a big club and representing the club with the support you get from the fans is something that not everyone gets the chance to do.”
On leaving behind the dressing room
“It's always been quite a tight-knit group and certain parts of football and getting through the season, you’re never going to get through them without your teammates.
“That’s the thing that we’ve done really well during my three years at the club, especially in that first season.
“It’s the tightest knit group I’ve ever been a part of and that showed on the pitch as well with the results we got and end goal we reached.
“Everyone goes through difficult moments and I think the girls have got me through that a lot at times. It’s always a good changing room to be in at the club.”
5️⃣9️⃣ appearances.
— Wolves Women FC (@WolvesWomen) June 24, 2024
1️⃣ league title.
2️⃣ Challenge Cups.
It's been some ride, @shanturner9 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UjzIHzLJan
On the goalkeepers’ union
“Goalkeepers always have to stick together. We’re normally the forgotten ones at training because you’re off training on your own and you join up with the team for only little parts of the sessions.
“Across the years, me, Hugh and Bec (Thomas) have been there for the full three years and anyone that’s come in has been part of it. It’s been a very tight-knit GK union, as they say.”
On what she wants to see the club achieve
“I’d love for it to have been while I was there, but seeing Wolves progress to the Championship is something that would be good to see.
“Of course, I’ll be keeping my eye on the results and supporting the team from afar and supporting them at games when I can do. I just wish them all the best for the upcoming season.”
On her time working for the Wolves Foundation
“It’s made it a lot harder for me to leave every part of the club. I left the Foundation a couple of months ago.
“Working there and playing for Wolves, you become a person in the community that people recognise. Going into schools, everyone knew who I was and that helps with the fans as well.
“Embedding myself into the community and the club makes it so much harder to leave a club like it is because of the opportunities and the effect you have on the younger generation in the community. It’s a good feeling but makes it a lot tougher to let go.”
On inspiring the next generation
“The first time I saw someone turn up with my name on the back of their shirt I was a bit starstruck to be fair, you don’t expect it when you’re growing up.
“As a young female footballer when I was growing up, I looked up at other people and I had them on the back of my shirt.
“For that to happen when I got to play and seeing kids with my name on their shirt, wanting autographs and pictures gives you a real sense of pride.”
On her parting message to the club
“I just thank them for all the support they’ve given me over the last three years, both on and off the pitch.
“The girls have been great to play with, the coaching staff have got me through an awful lot and pushed me to points to help me achieve so much.
“The fans are always there to support and they’ve always been that twelfth player. I just want to say thank you to everyone.”
