Everyone’s journey is different, and sometimes, you have to be patient.
For Stephen Turnbull, a mature outlook was essential in shaping his path to senior soccer. After impressing for New York City’s IIs side in our maiden MLS NEXT Pro campaign, the defender earned a promotion to the first-team set-up, selected for the Club’s preseason roster before making his first steps into MLS action with brief cameo appearances against Chicago Fire and New England Revolution.
A First Team contract would follow in April, and on Wednesday, he achieved his long-awaited milestone, named in the starting XI to face FC Cincinnati at Yankee Stadium – a game in which he produced a solid performance, described as ‘excellent’ by Head Coach Nick Cushing.
Though the night proved one of mixed emotions for Turnbull as the Boys in Blue slipped to defeat, City’s #34 asserts it was one he will never forget.
“It’s always special,” he said, reflecting on his full debut. “I was really grateful to get the opportunity to start. It was a really special moment for me.
“Obviously, I wish the game could have gone our way and we could have got the result we wanted, but sometimes that happens. It’s kind of finding the balance of being happy for yourself, but also still disappointed that the team didn’t get the win.
“It definitely hasn’t been an easy road for me, but it’s my journey, which makes it particularly special for me. When I came in here as a Second Team guy, I didn’t really know what to expect – the first year in the league; being new to the Club, new to the system, all that kind of stuff…
“I’ve had some really good conversations with Nick. Coming in, it’s been a little difficult for me to break into the team and get my opportunities, but Nick has always told me to be patient. Since preseason when I had my first real one-on-one sit-down with him, he told me the value he has in me, the belief he has in me.
“It’s about the importance of continuing to work. Obviously, I had – and still have – some areas I need to grow, so I’m just trying to continue to grow in those areas, gaining his trust to allow me to get some more opportunities.
“I couldn’t be happier with how it’s gone. It’s been a really great experience for me here. I've felt the love and support since I walked in the door. Being here, being around the staff, and all the players has just brought me to the highest level I feel I can provide here.”
With the City Boys in the midst of a challenging run of form, the squad is having to dig deep to try and improve fortunes, following a seven-game winless streak.
Turnbull adds it has been a real team effort with every single person pulling together, doing their bit to turn things around, inspired by the senior leaders within the group.
“Obviously, the results are where they are, and we are disappointed,” he continued, “but there is a real desire from this team to get us to where we want to be, where we feel we deserve to be.
“Some of these guys are really putting in the work that it takes to get there, and then there’s somebody like me, who has kind of been at the lower depths of the team so for this season – I just took my opportunity to try to give the guys all the confidence, pushing them through the game.
“In the ups and downs, and tough moments, I just tried to be a good teammate in those areas, and continue to push the guys we need to really make the difference in the game.
“Now, we’ve grown a lot more leaders – there are a lot more guys pushing the team along. Obviously, you have the senior guys like Maxime [Chanot], Alfredo [Morales] and Thiago Martins, and you have a real leader in James [Sands] – the way he gets his message across…
“Leadership is very unique – it really depends on what fits your personality. Some guys are screamers, some guys are more ‘lead by action.’ I think James is more ‘lead by action.’ He does a really good job in the pregame speech, getting the message across to the players – what the standard is, and what the expectations are.
“In his day-by-day activity is where he really carries out his leadership role: showing all of us the work that needs to be put in, where the standard is, how we should carry ourselves... I think he does a really good job of that.
“There are other guys as well who are trying to get everybody up – Luis [Barraza] does a good job… It’s a real collective effort at this point, which is great because the more guys we can get doing that, the better off the team will be.“
New York City Football Club are back in The Bronx on Saturday, welcoming New England Revolution to Yankee Stadium in our final game of a three-match home stand.
The clash kicks off at 3:30pm ET on June 3, and tickets are available.
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