Paul Daniel Turnbull (born 23 January 1989) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder. He is currently player manager of Cheadle Town.
Club career Stockport County Born in Handforth, Cheshire, Turnbull progressed through the Stockport County Centre of Excellence youth system where he trained as a striker, although he later adapted to playing in the centre of midfield . He became the youngest player to play league football in Stockport County's history, when he came off the bench against Wrexham on 30 April 2005, aged 16 years 97 days and still a school student at Wilmslow High School.
On 21 December 2007, Turnbull extended his contract at Edgeley Park until summer 2009, following a number of regular first team appearances. He started 16 games for Stockport in the 2007–08 season before joining Conference National club Altrincham on loan in March 2008, where he made six appearances. He returned from loan and impressed manager Jim Gannon so much that he played all of the clubs playoff games at the end of the season, including the final at Wembley Stadium.
Turnbull became a regular in the 2008–09 season and scored the first senior goal of his career in Stockport's 3–1 victory over Oldham Athletic on 3 October 2008.
In the 2010–11 season he was made club captain by Stockport manager Paul Simpson at the age of 21.
Northampton Town In May 2011 he was offered a new one-year deal by the club although in June 2011 Stockport agreed a fee with Northampton Town and agreed permission for Turnbull to talk to the club, with a view to agreeing personal terms and on 29 June the club confirmed he had signed for Northampton.
On 23 January 2012 he rejoined Stockport County on loan. On 21 September 2012 he rejoined Stockport County again on loan until 22 December. In January 2013, he joined Lincoln City on loan for the remainder of the season.
Macclesfield Town In July 2013 he joined Macclesfield Town after being released by Northampton Town.
Barrow
After refusing a new contract at Macclesfield Town, Turnbull joined Barrow on 7 June 2016.
Chester In July 2017 he joined Chester on a two-year deal, but off the field money issues at Chester meant Paul cut his spell there short.
Stockport County Paul rejoined his boyhood team Stockport County and was a crucial part of their 2018/2019 National League North winning campaign.
Later career After leaving Stockport County, Paul joined National League North Curzon Ashton for the 2020/21 season, before joining Stockport Town in North West Counties Division One South in July 2021. He later became player manager of Stockport Town and an academy coach at Stockport County.
In May 2026, Turnbull joined Cheadle Town as player-manager.https://x.com/CheadleTownFC/status/2059622448811630600
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsStockport County2004–05League One10000000102005–06League Two00000000002006–07League Two00000000002007–08League Two1902000602702008–09League One3421010203822009–10League One3002210203522010–11League Two415201010455Total125772301101469Altrincham (loan)2007–08Conference Premier60——0060Northampton Town2011–12League Two1401021101812012–13League Two00—001010Total140102120191Stockport County (loan)2011–12Conference Premier140——001402012–13Conference Premier12210—00132Total26210—00272Lincoln City (loan)2012–13Conference Premier150——00150Macclesfield Town2013–14Conference Premier37450—004242014–15Conference Premier37421—003952015–16National League38121—40442Total112992—4012511Barrow2016–17National League31211—30353Chester2017–18National League21010—30250Stockport County2017–18National League North90——101002018–19National League North27200—603322019–20National League30110—30341Total66310—100773Curzon Ashton2020–21National League North15000—10160Stockport Town2021–22NWCFL Division One South2850000002852022–23NWCFL Division One South3740010214052023–24NWCFL Division One South2611000413122024–25NWCFL Premier Division4000001050Total951010107210412Career total526332256141259541
Managerial statistics
+ Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordStockport Town28 January 2022presentTotal
Honours Stockport County Football League Two play-offs: 2008 National League North: 2018–19
References
External links