Fred Turner progressed through local junior football, missing out at Portsmouth but coming through the ranks at Southampton to sign pro in 1950. His National Service took him to Devon, where he turned out once for Third South Torquay. By the time he had been demobbed, returned to Southampton and made his debut, the Saints had been relegated to that division.

A quiet, thoughtful full-back with good positional sense,

Fred had just forced his way into the team on a regular basis when he became ill and was forced to quit playing in February 1955. Five months later, the illness, which had been diagnosed as stomach cancer, claimed his life at the age of 25.