Tommy Younger
Encyclopedia
Thomas Younger was a Scottish
professional footballer
of the 1950s and 60s who played as a goalkeeper.
, Scotland, Younger signed for his hometown club Hibernian
in 1948. He was part of the successful side of the early 50s, winning two titles in 1950–51
and 1951–52
.
Liverpool
manager Phil Taylor signed Younger in June 1956 for £9000. He made his debut at Anfield
on 18 August 1956 in a league match against Huddersfield Town
. Huddersfield spoilt Younger's day by taking both points from a 3–2 win. He kept his first clean-sheet two games later at Gigg Lane
as the Reds beat Bury
2–0. Younger immediately took over the No.1 jersey at Anfield and played in 43 of Liverpool's 45 matches in his first season. Younger spent three years at Liverpool, only missing six matches during this time.
In 1959, he was allowed to leave to take on a player/manager role at Falkirk
. A back injury led to him ending his playing career, but after finding out that the injury was not as bad as first diagnosed, he signed for Stoke City
in 1960. Younger played ten league games for Stoke during the 1959–60 season. Don Revie
, who was bringing experienced players to Leeds United to cope with declining fortunes at the club, signed Younger in 1961. Younger made 42 appearances for Leeds in 13 months before retiring for a second (and final) time in October 1962.
by Scotland
24 times in just three years. He made his debut on 4 May 1955 in a friendly international against Portugal
at Hampden Park
, Glasgow
. The Scots were too strong for their Iberian
counterparts, winning the game 3–0 and thus gaining Younger his first clean-sheet at national level. Younger also had the honour of keeping goal for the Scottish side during the 1958 World Cup in Sweden
. He played in 2 matches, the first against Yugoslavia
with the second, his last appearance for the Scots, coming against Paraguay
.
at Toronto City. After his stint in Toronto
he headed back to the club that set him on his way, Hibs. As well as being a talented goalkeeper he also had an astute business brain which he used in his role as, at first, a director at the Easter Road
club and then Chairman.
Younger later became president of the Scottish Football Association
, a position he held at his death on 13 January 1984, aged 53.
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...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
of the 1950s and 60s who played as a goalkeeper.
Club career
Born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland, Younger signed for his hometown club Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in 1948. He was part of the successful side of the early 50s, winning two titles in 1950–51
1950-51 in Scottish football
The 1950–51 season was the 54th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: HibernianRelegated: Clyde, Falkirk-Scottish League Division B:Promoted: Queen of the South, Stirling Albion...
and 1951–52
1951-52 in Scottish football
The 1951–52 season was the 55th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: HibernianRelegated: Greenock Morton, Stirling Albion-Scottish League Division B:Promoted: Clyde, Falkirk...
.
Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
manager Phil Taylor signed Younger in June 1956 for £9000. He made his debut at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
on 18 August 1956 in a league match against Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. Huddersfield spoilt Younger's day by taking both points from a 3–2 win. He kept his first clean-sheet two games later at Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it was built for Bury F.C. in 1885, and has been their home ever since.-History:...
as the Reds beat Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
2–0. Younger immediately took over the No.1 jersey at Anfield and played in 43 of Liverpool's 45 matches in his first season. Younger spent three years at Liverpool, only missing six matches during this time.
In 1959, he was allowed to leave to take on a player/manager role at Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
. A back injury led to him ending his playing career, but after finding out that the injury was not as bad as first diagnosed, he signed for Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in 1960. Younger played ten league games for Stoke during the 1959–60 season. Don Revie
Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977...
, who was bringing experienced players to Leeds United to cope with declining fortunes at the club, signed Younger in 1961. Younger made 42 appearances for Leeds in 13 months before retiring for a second (and final) time in October 1962.
International career
Younger was cappedCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
by Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
24 times in just three years. He made his debut on 4 May 1955 in a friendly international against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
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...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. The Scots were too strong for their Iberian
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
counterparts, winning the game 3–0 and thus gaining Younger his first clean-sheet at national level. Younger also had the honour of keeping goal for the Scottish side during the 1958 World Cup in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He played in 2 matches, the first against Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
with the second, his last appearance for the Scots, coming against Paraguay
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
.
Retirement
After his retirement he stayed on at Leeds as a scout before he got his first coaching role, it was in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
at Toronto City. After his stint in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
he headed back to the club that set him on his way, Hibs. As well as being a talented goalkeeper he also had an astute business brain which he used in his role as, at first, a director at the Easter Road
Easter Road
Easter Road is a football stadium located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian . The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 20,421, which makes it the fifth-largest football stadium in Scotland. Easter Road is also...
club and then Chairman.
Younger later became president of the Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
, a position he held at his death on 13 January 1984, aged 53.