Tom Youngs (footballer, born 1979)

Thomas Anthony John Youngs (born 31 August 1979) is an English football assistant manager and a former forward.

Tom Youngs
Personal information
Full name Thomas Anthony John Youngs[1]
Date of birth (1979-08-31) 31 August 1979 (age 44)[1]
Place of birth Bury St Edmunds, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1995–1997 Cambridge United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2003 Cambridge United 151 (43)
2003–2005 Northampton Town 26 (0)
2005 Leyton Orient 10 (1)
2005–2007 Bury 49 (7)
2007 Stafford Rangers 2 (0)
2007 Cambridge City ? (?)
2007–2008 Mildenhall Town ? (?)
2009 Norwich United ? (?)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 August 2010

Career edit

Tom Youngs was first scouted by Cambridge United's academy as a youngster, although he had not been interested in the game until he was eight years old.

He played for Cambridge, Northampton, Leyton Orient, Bury, Stafford Rangers, and other clubs.[2] As a Cambridge player, Youngs was the club's top scorer for two consecutive seasons, 2000 to 2002, netting in 26 goals.[3]

In 2011, while playing for Mildenhall Town, Youngs was forced to retire from active play following a serious hip injury that he suffered during a game against Wisbech Town,[4] which Mildenhall went on to win 9–0.[3] He remained with the club as assistant manager.

Personal life edit

At school, Youngs got A Levels in English, Mathematics, and French. While an active footballer, he obtained a degree in Sports Journalism from Staffordshire University.[3] Reportedly, his scholarly achievements inspired the chant, "Tom Youngs has got A Levels," while he was with Cambridge.[3]

In 2015, Youngs was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.[3] In 2016, his autobiography was published.[5]

Tom is married to Chelle Youngs and they have two daughters, Orla and Hannah.[3]

Honours edit

Cambridge United

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 467. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  2. ^ Tom Youngs at Soccerbase
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Ex-Cambridge United striker on his battle with multiple sclerosis" by Craig Lewis & Phil Shepka, BBC Sport, 23 March 2017
  4. ^ "Youngs Blow for Mildenhall" by Steve Whitney, NonLeaguePitchero, 15 November 2011
  5. ^ Youngs, Tom. What Dreams are (Not Quite) Made of: No Fame, No Fortune, Just Football ... and Multiple Sclerosis; Vertical Editions; 6 August 2016; ISBN 978-1904091967
  6. ^ Fletcher, Paul (24 March 2002). "Blackpool lift LDV Vans Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2024.