Joe started playing soccer for fun at Allo's meadow on the East Side. He had no intentions of playing competitive soccer until Lar Edwards approached him to play on his 3rd Division team. Joe, having a great amount of respect for Lar, couldn't refuse and the rest is history.

During the 70's decade, He became one of the most feared midfielders in the game. Besides playing on eight All-Newfoundland Championship teams, Joe had a soccer varsity career at the University of New Brunswick that is still talked about today. He was the Captain of the team and was named Athlete of the Year for UNB for all sports played on campus.

Joe was a member of the Provincial Under-18's that won the national championship in 1974. As a result of that tournament Joe was invited to the National Youth Team and played several games with them.

In 1977, he was a member of the Newfoundland Summer Games team, splitting his time between the Games team and the Senior Laurentians.

Joe has won a number of awards during his career especially Most Valuable Player but never Most Gentlemanly and Effective. His style of playing would never lend itself to that type of game. He was the kind of player that the opponent would have to go through him to get by him. His aggressive but skilled style made him one of the top soccer athletes of the 1970's decade. His determination and devotion to the game certainly explains why he received a number of "Most Dedicated Player" awards.

His career with the Laurentians went into the 1980's and during that span of time he had earned the respect of all opponents. His coach during most of the 70's, Jack Simms confided with him on many tactics and different plays on direct free shots just out side the 18 yard line.

Joe's greatest supporter was his Dad, the late Louie Turpin, who would have been very proud today to see his son join his daughter, Dick, in the Hall of Fame.

The St. Lawrence Soccer Hall of Fame welcomes JOE TURPIN.