Cole Turner is a teenaged holding midfielder who reads the game well and isn’t afraid of a tackle. But what makes Bethlehem Steel’s newest signing unique is the path he will take at the conclusion of the 2019 season.
Unlike fellow Philadelphia Union academy graduates who spent time with Steel, including Anthony Fontana, Brenden Aaronson, and Auston Trusty, Turner signed a pre-contract with the Union on the same day he signed for Steel. The Union wanted Turner locked in for 2020, and the young man, who was originally planning on attending the Naval Academy next year, had a difficult choice to make.
“I loved the idea about attending the Naval Academy and continuing my soccer career there, but when the opportunity to become a professional soccer player came I couldn’t turn it down,” Turner stated when asked why he chose to sign with Steel instead of playing for Navy. “It’s been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember.”
Thus far, Chambers and Steel coaches Brendan Burke and Stephen Hogan have recognized Turner’s talent while pushing him to invest time and effort to reach the next stage of his lifelong dream. They want Turner to become more involved in the attack even as he adjusts to the pace with which teams can hit him defensively. The midfielder has responded with one assist across nine starts and 12 total appearances, so he knows he still has a lot of space to improve.
“I think this was the right choice for me because it allows me to focus on playing with the Steel,” said Turner after inking his Steel contract and Union pre-contract. “It’s good for me to continue to develop and learn, so when the Union contract kicks in I’ll be ready to go. I’ve already seen my game grow in several ways these last few months, with the biggest thing being my speed of thought and awareness on the field.”
Those attributes Turner mentions are crucial for young players moving up through the ranks. Many struggle with the speed of the game at the professional level and Turner has been soaking in the knowledge from Steel captain James Chambers as he looks to make a smooth transition to MLS in four months.
And when that chances to don the Union badge in the regular season finally arrives, it won’t be the first time the Churchville, Maryland native pulls on the crest. He came on for the second half of the Union’s pre-season scrimmage against New York Red Bulls and gained valuable experience playing with guys that would later propel the Union to the top of the Eastern Conference. “My time in Florida with the Steel and the Union helped me a lot,” noted Turner. “It exposed me to the level I need to be at very early in the year, giving me time to adapt and perform.”
Both Philadelphia Union and Steel FC fans will have the opportunity to see Turner in action tomorrow as the Steel travel to take on Saint Louis FC on Saturday, July 27 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The match is set to be broadcast on ESPN+.
