UEFA pays tribute to pioneer goalscorer Turnbull
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Article summary
UEFA has saluted the late Hibernian FC and Scotland forward Eddie Turnbull – the first British player to score in the European Champion Clubs' Cup – who died recently.
Article top media content
Article body
UEFA has paid tribute to Eddie Turnbull – the Scotsman who was the first British player to score in the European Champion Clubs' Cup.
Turnbull, who passed away at the age of 88 last month, netted for Hibernian FC in their 4-0 away win over German opponents SC Rot-Weiss Essen in a European Cup first round first-leg tie on 14 September 1955.
Turnbull was a member of Hibernian's 'Famous Five' forward line of the late 1940s and 1950s along with Gordon Smith, Willie Ormond, Bobby Johnstone and Lawrie Reilly. He was capped nine times by Scotland, and scored 150 goals in 349 appearances for Hibernian. Later he turned successfully to management, including a spell at Hibs and the capture of the Scottish League Cup in 1972 – a competition he had also won with Aberdeen FC in 1970.
"It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing away of Mr Eddie Turnbull," said UEFA President Michel Platini in a message to Hibernian. "He was, among his other achievements, the first British player to score a goal in the European Champion Clubs' Cup – what is now the UEFA Champions League.
"We know he achieved much more as player, captain and manager," Mr Platini added, "but for this reason alone he holds a special place in the heart of UEFA."
