Alex Young (footballer, born 1880)

Sandy Young
Personal information
Full name	Alexander Simpson Young
Date of birth	23 June 1880
Place of birth	Slamannan, Scotland
Date of death	17 September 1959 (aged 79)
Place of death	Edinburgh, Scotland
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Inside right
Youth career
1898–1899	Slamannan Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team
1899–1900	St Mirren
1900–1901	Falkirk
1901–1911	Everton
1911	Tottenham Hotspur
1911–1912	Manchester City
?–?	South Liverpool
Total
International career
1905–1907	Scotland
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander Simpson Young (23 June 1880 – 17 September 1959) was a Scottish professional footballer who played for St Mirren, Falkirk, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, South Liverpool and represented Scotland at international level.^[1]^[3]

Football career

He is the all-time fourth highest scorer for English club Everton and scored the only goal to win the 1906 FA Cup Final.^[4] Some attribute to him a total of 110 league goals for Everton,^[4] which would put him in second spot behind Dixie Dean. He was also the Football League's top scorer in 1906–07.^[5]

In 1911 he moved South to London and joined Tottenham Hotspur. Young scored on his Lilywhites debut in a 2-2 draw against his old club Everton at Goodison Park in September 1911 in the old First Division.^[6] Alex would score three goals in five appearances for the Spurs.^[7]

After leaving White Hart Lane, Young went on to play for Manchester City before ending his playing career at South Liverpool.

Post-playing life

Young was convicted of the manslaughter of his brother in Australia in June 1916 and sentenced to three years' imprisonment.^[8]^[9] At times it was rumoured that he was hanged for sheep-rustling in Australia. Young, who was considered mentally unstable, died in an Edinburgh asylum^[5] on 17 September 1959 and is buried in Seafield Cemetery between Leith and Portobello. Everton FC, which supported Young throughout his life with occasional cash assistance, unveiled a new headstone in Edinburgh's Seafield cemetery on 3 September 2014. Everton Heritage Society chairman Paul Wharton said at the ceremony: "This is an Everton legend from 100 years ago that Evertonians will talk about in another 100 years. We had to honour the man and we're made up with how well it's gone. The Club are proud and so are we."

Honours

Everton

FA Cup: 1906^[4]
- Runner-up: 1907

Sources

Alex "Sandy" Young at Stats section of Everton F.C. website
FA Cup hero and man of mystery from the Liverpool Echo.
Young's trial and conviction from the Melbourne Argus
Everton FC minute-book text of telegram sent to Everton FC that reports Young's conviction.
David Prentice: Sandy Young goes ahead of Graeme Sharp in the Everton FC all-time League goalscoring table – 100 years on, Liverpool Echo, 2013-01-23.
Simon Burnton: The forgotten story of … Alex 'Sandy' Young, The Guardian, 2013-10-08.

References

^ ^a ^b Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888–1939. soccerdata. p. 290. ISBN 1-899468-63-3.
^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ Young's international stats Retrieved 27 August 2009
^ ^a ^b ^c "Sandy Young | Everton Football Club". www.evertonfc.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Gallery of Players Signed Between 1900 – 1919". efchistory.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
^ "Tottenham Football/ Premier League debut scorers".
^ Tottenham Hotspur F.C A-Z of players Retrieved 1 December 2012 Archived 15 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Brother Shoots Brother. Tongala Tragedy. Verdict of Manslaughter". The Argus (Melbourne). 21 June 1916. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
^ The Australian Manslaughter Case. | Verdict Against Well-known Footballer. The Scotsman, 22 June 1916. Scan via London Hearts Supporters Club