MILLIE Turner can reflect on a fabulous first season with Manchester United Women.

The Wilmslow 22-year-old has played a key role in the Reds’ title triumph.

Turner, a former pupil at Gorsey Bank Primary and Wilmslow High schools, has played in every game for Casey Stoney’s reformed team.

As well as being a character in the dressing room who drives high standards, the England age-group international has a been a rock at the heart of a defence that has leaked only seven goals in 18 FA Women’s Championship matches.

League Cup semi-final and FA Cup quarter-final appearances have been achieved too, having knocked out Super League opposition en route.

Turner waved goodbye to captaincy and Super League football with Bristol City, whom she had joined from Everton in 2017, in order to sign for the hastily assembled United squad last May.

But she has been rewarded with winning her first Championship with full-time United and earning a place in Super League next season.

Her sixth-minute headed goal in a 5-0 win against Aston Villa at Leigh Sports Village last month steered the Reds to the points needed to seal promotion.

Knutsford Guardian:

Millie Turner is buried under a pile of bodies as she celebrates making it 1-0 in the promotion-clinching win against Aston Villa. Picture Bradley Collyer/PA Wire



The title was in the bag three days later courtesy of a 7-0 home success against Crystal Palace.

Turner has started all 27 games at centre half, scoring two goals in the process.

Highlights have included a 12-0 league victory against Aston Villa and defeating higher level sides Liverpool, West Ham and Brighton in United’s cup runs.

The campaign will end at home to Lewes Women on May 11, after United visit Millwall this Sunday.

Her football adventure has gone almost full circle.

She started playing with Eric Garner’s Wilmslow Football Academy at the age of five and had spells developing with Stockport County, Manchester City and Crewe Alexandra Centre of Excellence.

Turner, who can also play the holding role in midfield, then joined the Manchester United Centre of Excellence but was forced to move when it was disbanded midway through 2013.

That is when she joined Everton, where she became an FA Cup finalist in 2014, and progressed at international level with England under 18s and then the under 23s.

She played in every game as England Under 23s won the Nordic Tournament in 2017.

Meanwhile, Millie’s younger brother Jake continues to make progress in his own professional footballing career.

The 19-year-old Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper is currently on loan to Vanarama National League North side Darlington FC until the end of the season.