Freedom of Hereford for Shrewsbury football boss Turner

Turner became Shrewsbury manager again after previously selling his share in Hereford

Former Hereford United football manager and chairman Graham Turner has received the freedom of the city.

The Shrewsbury Town boss was associated with Hereford for 15 years from 1995.

Turner, who has also managed Aston Villa and Wolves, was given the honour at a ceremony at Hereford Town Hall on Sunday.

"I think the people and the councillors of Hereford appreciate the value of a football club to the community and to the city," he said.

"Obviously we had the setback of relegation during that time, but we bounced back.

"We had the pleasure of going and playing a season in the first division [League One]."

Assumed control

Turner also took Hereford back into the Football League in 2006, via the Conference play-offs, and led them into League One in 2008 before they dropped back down the next season.

He arrived at Edgar Street initially as manager in August 1995. He then took over as chairman from Peter Hill in January 1998 following the club's relegation to the Conference.

He combined the roles until the end of the 2008/09 season when he relinquished the manager's job in favour of coach John Trewick.

But Turner once more assumed control when Trewick was relieved of his duties in March.

Turner was appointed as manager at Shrewsbury for the second time in June, after previously selling his share in Hereford.

In his first spell of almost six years, he led Shrewsbury to promotion from the old Third Division before taking over at Villa in 1984.

After being appointed as Wolves manager in 1986, he took the side up two divisions from English football's fourth tier during a seven-year spell.