Michael Turner (2007/08 & 2008/09)
Only three players have achieved back-to-back Player of the Year awards, with the most recent being Michael Turner. The two seasons he won the prestigious award was arguably two of most important campaigns in our club history.
After a first season with the Tigers saw him play his first campaign in the second tier, the defender formed a great partnership with Wayne Brown which would be the foundation of a successful 2007/08 campaign.
“I wasn’t in the team for the first game of the season against Plymouth Argyle and the team lost the game,” said Turner. “We had Crewe Alexandra in the League Cup on Tuesday night and I had a feeling that I would play, so it was a great opportunity for me to stamp my authority and get a positive performance and result. It was actually the first game I played with Wayne Brown, who missed the first game through injury, so me and ‘Browny’ played in that first game and then we played again on the Saturday in the league and we sort of went from there.”
One game that set off a good run and spirt in the team came at Turf Moor in November 2007. With the game edging closer to a goaless draw, it was Turner that would net in the 90th-minute to turn one point into three in the Championship.
“I remember it being a tough game. We would have been happy to take a draw, but I managed to get myself on the end of a set-piece to come away with a 1-0 victory. It was an incredible feeling as a player to score, but to score the winning goal is a much better feeling for the team and individually. I remember it being a great night for the team and one of those results that helped to make us believe that we could go on to have a good season that year.”
The majority of the Hull City faithful will know how the remainder of the campaign goes, with the club’s first trip to Wembley before Dean Windass’ volley sent the club to the Premier League for the first time ever. The now-39-year-old featured 51 times during the promotion campaign, seeing a return of five goals all coming in the second tier as he awarded the Player of the Year award.
“Wembley was an incredible afternoon really and it was definitely the best day of my football career. It was amazing from start to finish and I’d give anything to get those feelings back from the day.
“To play in a team that got promoted to the Premier League was fantastic and to top it off with a player of the year award, the season could not have gone any better really. To get the award amongst some great players we had at the time who could have won it was very flattering.”
Fast forward to next season, the city of Hull were eager as they knew Premier League football was coming. Just under 25,000 fans attended the historic season opener against Fulham, where finishes from Geovanni and Caleb Folan saw Phil Brown’s men register a 2-1 victory at the KC Stadium.
For Turner, his first Premier League goal came in a 2-2 draw against Everton before netting the winner against West Ham United three league games later. Playing every minute of every league game, the defender played a pivotal part in the club producing the Great Escape to preserve their Premier League status.
“I remember watching Match of the Day 2 that evening and seeing myself scoring the goal against Everton was insane,” remembered Turner. “The team were flying at that time and to score again in the Premier League in a 1-0 win over West Ham was absolute perfection. I couldn’t really have asked for much more as we were flying and we just loved every game and wanted every game to come along quickly so we could continue what we were doing.
“It was just a special season for me individually being my first year in the Premier League, so it was one I was very proud of. From the first game, the ideal was to stay in the Premier League and that is exactly what we had done, albeit through the skin of our teeth. We stayed in the league and that was all that mattered so it was a great season for the club and one that I can never forget.”
To end a perfect season, the Lewisham-born defender was rewarded with consecutive Player of the Year awards, an achievement he holds very dearly to.
“To win it in the Championship season getting promotion to the Premier League was special and then to play in the Premier League side and receive the award again is even more special for me.
“I probably didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have done at the time but I was riding on the crest of a wave at the time. I was enjoying playing for the club in the Premier League, getting back-to-back Player of the Year awards for such a great club and at a club where I felt it was the best time of my career and most enjoyable one. Looking back at the size of the club and being a part of history is a great achievement for myself and looking back on fond memories and the two awards were very special for me.”
