By Ryan Makuch
Very few men or women have represented The Mighty Oak in the way that Stephen Turnbull has. A two-year veteran of AFCAA, Turnbull’s hard work, and resiliency have paid off in a big way, as Turnbull’s professional soccer dreams have turned into an MLS NEXT reality.
Turnbull has started two of the three NYCFC II matches at the MLS NEXT level this season, including a 2-2 draw with Orlando City B on April 3, where Turnbull provided an assist from the LB position that he has occupied in the early goings of this season. Turnbull’s appearance means that an alum of The Mighty Oak has played at every level of the US soccer pyramid this season.
“It feels great to play at a really high level with some real top-quality players,” Turnbull shared with AFCAA about his journey so far. Discussing the preseason preparation that he and the side underwent, Turnbull continued, saying, “We had a lot of players who have been on trial throughout the preseason process, so that was a long 2-3 weeks of guys going in and out, players coming up from the academy, down from the first team, and moving around.”
Turnbull enjoyed the moving pieces of the preseason, though, noting how a wide array of talent levels and skill sets was able to be on display. Also in the early days, said Turnbull, “It was also a little more difficult to settle into the team, but ever since that I’d say we really got our core team together … and we were really able to work together as a team.”
When thinking about Turnbull’s own AFCAA story, that emphasis on resilience and hard work seems very evident. One of the latest adds to the 2018 roster, Turnbull joined the side alongside two fellow Stony Brook players (Serge Gamwanya and Moco Watson) and almost immediately he would slide right in at RB.
Turnbull quickly became the first-choice RB and a vital cog for The Mighty Oak to continue spinning their wheels in that historic season. Turnbull logged his lone goal for AFCAA in the final regular-season match of that campaign, a 9-0 home victory over FC Indiana in what remains the club’s largest-ever victory.
Turnbull would play in ten NPSL matches (including postseason) in 2018 for a total of 723 minutes. His 2019 was similarly successful, in spite of the fact that he battled through the difficulty of injury, including a leg injury early in the season, and a head injury during the season that would also cause him to miss time.
He would log action in nine matches in 2019 for a total of 656 minutes. In each of his two seasons, Turnbull would also log an assist in each season, highlighting his continued successes in the side’s build-up play.
“There are some differences, but I actually felt that my time with AFCAA was incredibly professional, and before I got into this opportunity, AFCAA was my most professional experience by far,” Turnbull shared when speaking about his own perspectives on the professional game and differences between the levels of American soccer. Turnbull noted the impressive coaching staff, a dedicated front office staff, a standout supporters section in the Main Street Hooligans, and the activity in the community, which involves both the men’s and women’s teams’ participation.
This coaching staff also responded extremely favorably to the news of yet another alum of the 2018-19 squads making their professional debut. The head coach of those teams, Club Sporting Director Eric Rudland, said, “We’re pumped to see Turnbull take the next step in his career. He is a true testament of persistence.” Speaking to that joining in camp late, Rudland revealed about Turnbull’s intro to Ann Arbor, He came into us as a trialist & became a mainstay in our backline,” before adding, “It’s nice to see another Mighty Oak alum in the pro ranks.”
Likewise, then-assistant coach, and current Men’s Head Coach, Rod Asllani, who worked extensively with the defense in both 2018 and 2019, said, “ I was impressed with Stephen from the first day of AFC training back in 2018. He was great for us that year and I knew he had a future as a professional soccer player.” Asllani expanded on Turnbull’s strength of character, as well, saying, “He has shown great perseverance the last couple of years fighting through injuries and a pandemic as well. It is great to see that he finally got the chance to prove his worth at the pro level. I’m happy for him and I can’t wait to see what he’ll accomplish in the future.”
Turnbull’s popularity is deeply unsurprised when considering the deep impact he had on this club. A member of the extensive Stony Brook pipeline, which featured four different players over the last two seasons of club activity, Turnbull’s involvement in the club has kept that feeding line active. Additionally, Turnbull’s ability to fight up from trialist to mainstay of the first team made him a perfect leadership candidate in the 2019 squad, and Turnbull even was honored with the ability to don the armband on more than one occasion during the season.
While the AFCAA experience has aided Turnbull at this professional stop of his journey, there are still some learnings that are being taken in daily. The main difference on the field is the speed of play. “It’s really fast,” Turnbull simply put. “It’s one of those things where you need to think ahead, and if you’re not thinking ahead you’re falling behind.”
Off-the-field, Turnbull highlighted the depth and breadth of the support staff, which allows the coaches to focus exclusively on on-field action. “I’d say there’s a lot more staff and so many people that are there to help and contribute,” Turnbull would state. Turnbull also hailed the facilities as top class and a key part in the feeling of a professional atmosphere.
Turnbull touched on that sort of professionality of the sport at the pro level, saying, “A lot of people take this incredibly seriously. Every detail is done right, and a lot of effort goes into what they do.”
Armed with a professional mindset, an extensive offensive, and defensive skillset, and a desire to get to the next level, Stephen Turnbull is making a firm impact within the NYCFC II squad, and it’s a professional career journey that AFCAA fans and staff are confident in saying that it is only getting started.
About AFC Ann Arbor
Association Football Club Ann Arbor (AFC Ann Arbor) was founded in 2014 and competes in USL2 (men’s) and USLW (women’s) national amateur leagues. We are a community-based club, focused on equity, justice, and anti-racism. We consider all of our stakeholders, including supporters, players, staff, and ownership to be part of the #AFCAAFamily. Come On You Mighty Oak!