Eric Young (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Eric Young is a Welsh
retired footballer, who was a strong, commanding centre half nicknamed "Ninja" due to his ever-present brown headband.
Young started his career at non-league Southall and then moved to Slough Town where his commanding style was noticed by a number of league clubs; he played for Slough for 3 seasons (Slough Town also produced the former Chelsea centre half Micky Droy). Young was eventually signed by Brighton & Hove Albion
in 1982. During the period in non league football Young continued with his accountancy training. He made his league debut in the first match of the 1982–83
season and went on to make 126 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals before transferring to Wimbledon
for £70,000 on the eve of the 1987–88
season.
He became a firm favourite at Wimbledon
and had a formidable central defensive partnership with Andy Thorn
, playing in their famous victory over Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup Final. After 99 appearances and 9 goals for the club he was sold to Crystal Palace
for £850,000 (at the time a huge fee for a 30 year old). At Palace he played some of the best football of his career, and resumed the Thorn/Young defensive partnership that had been so successful with Wimbledon. Eric was a mainstay in the team that finished third in the old first division (now the Premiership
) and kept his place in the side until a public fall out with manager Alan Smith
at the beginning of the ill fated 1994–95
season that saw him dropped until the final five matches of that campaign.
After 161 appearances and 15 goals for Palace he then joined Wolverhampton Wanderers
on a free transfer before retiring, and is now working as a horse whisperer in a construction based company in heathrow. Eric won 31 caps for Wales
, for whom he qualified due to being born in Singapore but holding a British passport.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
retired footballer, who was a strong, commanding centre half nicknamed "Ninja" due to his ever-present brown headband.
Young started his career at non-league Southall and then moved to Slough Town where his commanding style was noticed by a number of league clubs; he played for Slough for 3 seasons (Slough Town also produced the former Chelsea centre half Micky Droy). Young was eventually signed by Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
in 1982. During the period in non league football Young continued with his accountancy training. He made his league debut in the first match of the 1982–83
1982-83 in English football
The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...
season and went on to make 126 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals before transferring to Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
for £70,000 on the eve of the 1987–88
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
season.
He became a firm favourite at Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
and had a formidable central defensive partnership with Andy Thorn
Andy Thorn (footballer)
Andy Thorn is a retired English footballer and the current manager of Coventry City.As a player at Wimbledon, he was part of the side that achieved a famous victory over Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup Final...
, playing in their famous victory over Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup Final. After 99 appearances and 9 goals for the club he was sold to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
for £850,000 (at the time a huge fee for a 30 year old). At Palace he played some of the best football of his career, and resumed the Thorn/Young defensive partnership that had been so successful with Wimbledon. Eric was a mainstay in the team that finished third in the old first division (now the Premiership
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
) and kept his place in the side until a public fall out with manager Alan Smith
Alan Smith (manager)
Alan Smith is an English former football manager who began his coaching career as Steve Coppell's assistant at Crystal Palace. When Palace suffered relegation from the Premiership in 1993, Coppell resigned and Smith moved up to the manager's seat...
at the beginning of the ill fated 1994–95
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
season that saw him dropped until the final five matches of that campaign.
After 161 appearances and 15 goals for Palace he then joined Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
on a free transfer before retiring, and is now working as a horse whisperer in a construction based company in heathrow. Eric won 31 caps for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, for whom he qualified due to being born in Singapore but holding a British passport.