South Shields will show Cheltenham Town respect, but not too much - says midfield star

The Mariners travel to Gloucestershire to face the SkyBet League Two promotion challengers in a historic tie on Saturday afternoon.

Graham Fenton and Lee Picton’s side will unquestionably be viewed as outsiders as they look to pull off a shock win against the Robins.

But the Mariners joint-managers have already delivered a defiant message to their players ahead of the game – and it is one that Turnbull was only too happy to endorse.

He told The Gazette: “What I loved about the management team on Tuesday night was that they told us we are not going there to fill the numbers.

“I am absolutely the same, and I wouldn’t allow that sort of attitude from any of my team-mates.

“No disrespect to Cheltenham, or any players in the Football League, but the gap between non-league and Football League is closing.

“We have players that could be playing at their level, or players that have been in the Football League.

“We will show them respect, but we can’t afford to show them too much, we are going there to have a go and that is what we will do.”

Turnbull has already experienced contrasting emotions in several FA Cup first round appearances during his career in non-league football.

The experienced midfielder was part of the Gateshead side that saw off North East rivals in 2011 and was still with the Tynesiders when they eased to a 4-0 win at Norton United three years later.

But he also experienced first round defeats against Brentford, Notts County and Oxford United during his time at the International Stadium.

Turnbull, now 33, admitted that Saturday could be one of his last opportunities to secure another famous win in his career.

“I see people saying you start to appreciate it more when you’re older,” he explained.

“You don’t think that’s going to happen to you, but I can say that it is.

“I am one of the older lads in the dressing room, you know that nobody can play forever, time stands still for no one.

“This could be one of my last games in the competition, I am quite old as a footballer, but I feel I am playing some of the best football of my career because I am enjoying it more.”