Ernie Turner’s progress from local football, while working as a collier at the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company, to playing in the Third South for Merthyr Town, was interrupted by the First World War, in which he served in the Machine Gun Corps Training Battalion. He was regular at Merthyr for three seasons, during which he represented the Welsh FA.

Although he turned out for the Saints at inside- and centre-forward, he never established himself in the Second Division side. At the end of the season, Ernie left – for Canada. By the end of the year, however, he had returned to England. He joined Third South Luton but, with Southampton still holding his registration, he was allowed to sign Southern League forms only, limiting him to Reserves football. Although Luton had the option to buy him, he failed to realise their expectations and never played League football again. In 1923 he married the daughter of the landlord of the Old Tanyard Inn in Bethesda St in Merthyr Tydfil