Darren Young (Scottish footballer)
Encyclopedia
Darren Young is a Scottish
semi-professional football player. He currently plays for Alloa Athletic
.
Over the course of his career he has also played for Aberdeen
, Dundee
, Dunfermline Athletic
and Greenock Morton
. Between his spells at Dundee and Morton, Young played two trial matches for Queen of the South
.
(where he was later to be joined by younger brother Derek
), signing from Crombie Sports on February 29, 1996. He made a quick impact, making his first team debut against Hearts
in August 1996, aged only 17. Young's prodigious development which had seen him awarded several Scotland Under-21
caps was hindered however, by a serious knee injury which required three separate operations to repair.
Young made a successful return to the Aberdeen first team in 2000, by which stage his brother Derek was also an established member of Ebbe Skovdahl
's resurgent side. Darren was soon awarded the captaincy and led the 'Dons' to a 4th place finish in the league in the 2001-02 season
. This ensured European football
returned to Pittodrie
and Young increased his continental appearances for Aberdeen to 10, as the 'Dons' played FC Nistru Otaci
and Hertha BSC Berlin
in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup.
together in July 2003 as part of Jimmy Calderwood
's new-look side and were part of the team defeated 3-1 by Celtic
in the Scottish Cup
Final at Hampden Park
in May 2004. Young was once again blighted by injuries the following season but helped the Pars retain their SPL
status in the 2005-06 season
, as well as reaching League Cup
Final where Celtic again proved too strong, beating the Fife
side 3-0.
In July 2006, his brother was released by Dunfermline (eventually signing for St. Johnstone), ensuring the Young brothers would play separately for the first time in their professional careers.
In May 2008, Darren rejected Dunfermline's final contract offer meaning he would leave East End Park
at the 2007-08 season, after five years with the Fife
side.
First Division
rivals Dundee
. Young was sent off after 3 minutes into his long awaited debut for Dundee during a league match against Clyde at Broadwood Stadium
after pulling back an opponent. He was released by the club on 4 May 2010.
club Queen of the South
early in the 2010-11 season, during the reign of Kenny Brannigan
's management. In the second game for the Palmerston
club he was substituted due to injury after 10 minutes.
after a spate of injuries to their midfield. He was offered training facilities and the possibility of trial matches, but no contract offer will be possible due to financial restrictions at the club. Despite being told this, after playing well in his three games, he was signed until the end of the year. After a dozen league appearances, Young was released in May 2011.
caps. He also travelled with the Scotland squad to the 1998 FIFA World Cup
as a hamper boy.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
semi-professional football player. He currently plays for Alloa Athletic
Alloa Athletic F.C.
Alloa Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Third Division....
.
Over the course of his career he has also played for Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
, Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
and Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
. Between his spells at Dundee and Morton, Young played two trial matches for Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
.
Aberdeen
Young started his career at AberdeenAberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
(where he was later to be joined by younger brother Derek
Derek Young
Derek Young is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Greenock Morton after leaving Grindavík.-Career:Young started his career with Aberdeen before having spells with Dunfermline Athletic, St...
), signing from Crombie Sports on February 29, 1996. He made a quick impact, making his first team debut against Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
in August 1996, aged only 17. Young's prodigious development which had seen him awarded several Scotland Under-21
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
caps was hindered however, by a serious knee injury which required three separate operations to repair.
Young made a successful return to the Aberdeen first team in 2000, by which stage his brother Derek was also an established member of Ebbe Skovdahl
Ebbe Skovdahl
Ebbe Skovdahl Hansen is a retired Danish football manager. He most prominently was a successful manager at Brøndby IF, for whom he had also played in his active years...
's resurgent side. Darren was soon awarded the captaincy and led the 'Dons' to a 4th place finish in the league in the 2001-02 season
2001-02 in Scottish football
The 2001–02 season was the 105th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:Celtic, domestic treble winners a year earlier, retain their Premier League title....
. This ensured European football
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
returned to Pittodrie
Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
and Young increased his continental appearances for Aberdeen to 10, as the 'Dons' played FC Nistru Otaci
FC Nistru Otaci
FC Nistru Otaci is a Moldovan football club based in Otaci, Moldova. They play in the Divizia Naţională, the top division in Moldovan football.-History:...
and Hertha BSC Berlin
Hertha BSC Berlin
Hertha Berliner Sport-Club von 1892, commonly known as Hertha BSC or Hertha Berlin, is a German association football club based in Berlin. A founding member of the German Football Association in Leipzig in 1900, the club has a long history as Berlin's best-supported side...
in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup.
Dunfermline Athletic
Darren and brother joined Dunfermline AthleticDunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
together in July 2003 as part of Jimmy Calderwood
Jimmy Calderwood
James "Jimmy" Calderwood is a Scottish former footballer and currently without a club having recently been manager of Ross County. Calderwood played for English clubs Birmingham City and Cambridge United and Dutch clubs Sparta Rotterdam, Willem II Tilburg, Roda JC and Heracles Almelo...
's new-look side and were part of the team defeated 3-1 by Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
Final at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
in May 2004. Young was once again blighted by injuries the following season but helped the Pars retain their SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
status in the 2005-06 season
2005-06 in Scottish football
The 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill...
, as well as reaching League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
Final where Celtic again proved too strong, beating the Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
side 3-0.
In July 2006, his brother was released by Dunfermline (eventually signing for St. Johnstone), ensuring the Young brothers would play separately for the first time in their professional careers.
In May 2008, Darren rejected Dunfermline's final contract offer meaning he would leave East End Park
East End Park
East End Park is a football stadium situated in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland with a seating capacity of 11,380.The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premier League side, Dunfermline Athletic F.C. It currently comprises four stands: East Stand, Main Stand, SGM Stand and the Norrie...
at the 2007-08 season, after five years with the Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
side.
Dundee
In May 2008, Young signed for his former club'sDunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
rivals Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
. Young was sent off after 3 minutes into his long awaited debut for Dundee during a league match against Clyde at Broadwood Stadium
Broadwood Stadium
Broadwood Stadium, also referred to as simply Broadwood, is a football stadium and multi-use community sports complex situated in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The stadium was opened in 1994 and since then has been the home venue of Scottish Third Division side, Clyde F.C....
after pulling back an opponent. He was released by the club on 4 May 2010.
Queen of the South
Young featured in two games as a trialist for DumfriesDumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
club Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
early in the 2010-11 season, during the reign of Kenny Brannigan
Kenny Brannigan
Kenny Brannigan is a former Scottish association footballer.- Playing career :Kenny Brannigan was a journeyman professional with a career spanning 21 seasons. A centre back, he played for 14 senior clubs in his career, making over 100 appearances for each of Queens Park F.C., and...
's management. In the second game for the Palmerston
Palmerston Park
Palmerston Park is a multi-purpose stadium on Terregles Street in Dumfries, south west Scotland. The site of the ground was formerly a farm called Palmers Toun. This is on the Maxwelltown side of the River Nith in Dumfries. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of...
club he was substituted due to injury after 10 minutes.
Morton
Young then went on trial at Greenock MortonGreenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
after a spate of injuries to their midfield. He was offered training facilities and the possibility of trial matches, but no contract offer will be possible due to financial restrictions at the club. Despite being told this, after playing well in his three games, he was signed until the end of the year. After a dozen league appearances, Young was released in May 2011.
International career
Young won seven Scotland under-21Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
caps. He also travelled with the Scotland squad to the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
as a hamper boy.