Alex "The Golden Vision" Young

227 Appearances

77 Goals

Alex "The Golden Vision" Young joined Everton in November 1960 from Hearts in a £55,000 deal that also brought his team-mate, full-back, George Thomson to Goodison Park and he soon won over the Blues' fans with his class.

He didn't make his debut for Everton until the following month, as he joined carrying a knee injury sustained whilst playing for the British Army, and his debut, when it came, didn't bring the best of results, going down 3-1 to Spurs, but for the rest of the season, Young and Roy Vernon began to blossom as a partnership and after he hit his first goals against Blackburn Rovers, there was no holding them.

In the Championship winning season of 1962-63, Young scored in all three of the opening games, all wins, and ended the season with 22 goals to his name.

Young was arguably the greatest Scottish player ever to sign for Everton, and was a major influence in the team which over-turned Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup Final of 1966.

In attacking situations, Young always seemed to have plenty of time. He knew where to play the ball instinctively, and for all his flair and grace, he knew had a ferocious shot and fantastic heading ability.

His blond hair made him quite a distinctive figure on the pitch, and this is what earned him the name of "The Golden Vision". He was a gifted, elegant striker, and when he was replaced by a precocious 16 year old by the name of Joe Royle towards the end of this career, there was public outcry! Manager Harry Catterick was famously assaulted by outraged Evertonians, such was Young's popularity.

Young was one of the classiest post-war Everton players, and the Everton fans worshipped him, to them he was the greatest.

In writing the foreword to James Corbett's "Everton : School of Science", Young wrote "I left Everton Football Club in 1968. But I can honestly say that Everton has never left me."

"Even though I left Everton 35 years ago - and even though I started my career at Hearts in Scotland, I still regard myself as an Evertonian."

"The relegation-haunted seasons of recent memory have left me pacing the floors at night, just as the glory years left me walking on air."

It was Young's ability to walk, or rather the pain he endured, which has gained him even more of a place in Evertonian's memories as a true great of Everton Football Club. He suffered from un-naturally soft feet, which were severely prone to blisters which kept him out of the game for long periods at a time, despite his best efforts to carry on, often leaving his socks dripping with blood after a match.

When Evertonians became aware of his problem, his home was deluged with remodies for his ailment, such was his popularity, ranging from paddling on Crosby beach three times a day to rubbing them with a potato!!

Young embodied the club he had joined, and personified The School of Science in many Evertonian's eyes, and the eight years he spent at the club may not have been the most successful years, but they were spent playing the kind of football Evertonians have saught since the club was born.