Scorer of the hat-trick by which Oldham removed City from the FA Cup in 1979, Alan became one of the first players to be transferred under the new freedom of contract regulations and have his transfer fee set by a tribunal.
The £250.000 move upset Oldham while still City’s then record fee, but appeared more of a bargain as Alan led the club’s charge towards Division One with a fair goalscoring verve and no little delicacy of skill for a forward so apparently forceful.
His scoring touch deserted him somewhat thereafter, though, and it occasionally, looked as if he was more intent on back chatting his way through a game than getting on and playing it. Fitness problems also marred the picture, though Jock Wallace stood by Alan despite the striking challenge of Jim Melrose, and it was not until the very eve of the next season, by which time Gordon Milne had taken over, that Alan was on his way to Bramall Lane for £200.000.
Seven League goals for the Blades, twelve for the Seagulls and thirteen for the Magpies, subsequently represented one in three scoring ratio, but Alan’s spell on the treatment table, especially for a nagging back injury ailment, were becoming more frequent, and severely limited his contribution to Rochdale’s Fourth Division struggles. He returned to Leicestershire as player/coach at Shepshed, and to help run the indoor cricket and soccer centre at Thurmaston, and was later organiser of Notts County’s Football in the Community scheme.
Alan Young was for a time with BBC Radio Leicester and a very popular figure among listeners on match day, with great round up’s and reviews of games as well as giving his expert talk during the 90 minutes.
- Full Name: Alexander Forbes Young
- Position: Forward
- Date of Birth: 26.10.1955
- Birthplace: Kirkcaldy
- Nation: Scotland
- Caps / Goals: –
- Major League Career:
- 1974-79, Oldham Athletic (122/30)
- 1979-82, Leicester City (104/26)
- 1982-83, Sheffield United (26/7)
- 1983-84, Brighton & Hove Albion (26/12)
- 1984-86, Notts County (43/12)
- 1986-87, Rochdale (28/2)