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.
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. Some attribute to him a total of 110 league goals for Everton, which would put him in second spot behind Dixie Dean. He was also the Football League's top scorer in 1906–07.
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. Alex would score three goals in five appearances for the Spurs.
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. 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 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
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
1880 births
1959 deaths
Footballers from Falkirk (council area) Men's association football inside forwards Scottish men's footballers Scotland men's international footballers Everton F.C. players Falkirk F.C. players St Mirren F.C. players Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players Manchester City F.C. players Scottish Football League players English Football League players First Division/Premier League top scorers British expatriates in Australia British people convicted of manslaughter 20th-century Scottish criminals South Liverpool F.C. players Fratricides Deaths in mental institutions