ALEX YOUNG

Thank you for a contribution from Bill Rogers, a college 4th XI footballer and someone who has followed Everton from his youth. The death of Alex Young would have meant something to him. Bill saw Alex scoring a glanced near post header from a corner, against Burnley in an FA Cup 3rd Round replay in 1967. The original game had been 0-0 at Burnley, the replay was a 2-1 win for the Blues.

Bill was at the other end of the pitch when Alex Young scored. The Burnley goalkeeper was Alex's cousin, Harry Thompson, who was beaten twice in the 2-0 win. I had a photo from Bill but cannot get it published due to technical issues!

Alex Young passed away on the 27th of February, aged 80. Born at Loanhead in Midlothian in 1937, Alex worked in the local colliery and played for Newtongrange Star football club. Hearts of Midlothian soon picked him up as a forward and from the age of 18 he starred for the club playing 194 times, scoring 103 goals.

For six years he helped the club to the League championship in 1957/8 contributing 20 goals during the season. There was also  Scottish Cup win in 1956 and a League Cup win in 1959/60. The following season he joined Everton as a part of a deal with colleague George Thompson and £55,000.

During his career Alex played 275 games and added 89 goals to his personal tally. With Everton he won the First Division title (1963) scoring 22 in 42 appearances and also the Cup Final in 1966.

Curiously he only played twice for the Scottish League team (2 goals) and only 8 times for his country, Scotland, scoring 5.

He was known as the "Golden Vision" at Everton, and a BBC play written by Ken Loach in 1968, paid tribute to Alex. Dr. David France wrote a book about Alex in 2008, called "Alex the Great". Alex stated that "I am a Scot by birth and an Evertonian by choice". At the book launch it was clear that he was suffering from dementia and also had problems walking. Given a testimonial by Everton in 2001, 20,000 turned up at Goodison Park.

In his retirement he played for and managed briefly at Glentoran, but had to give up as his hearing began to fail. He also played at Stockport for 23 games. 

He went into the family upholstery business and was present at the 2015 friendly between Hearts and Everton.