Neil Young (footballer, born 1975)

Neil Young
Personal information
Date of birth1975
Place of birthEngland
Playing positionMidfielder
Youth career
Tranmere Rovers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
Conwy United
Droylsden
Teams managed
2008–2010Colwyn Bay
2010–2014Chester
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Neil Young (born 1975) is an English football manager. He has previously managed Colwyn Bay and Chester FC.[1]

Playing career

Young began his playing career as a youth team player at Tranmere Rovers, playing as a midfield player. After being released by Tranmere, he moved first to Conwy United, and then to Droylsden. However, he suffered persistent problems with a dislocated shoulder, and after his fifth dislocation he retired from playing football aged only 24.[2]

Managerial career

Colwyn Bay

Young started his managerial career with Poulton Victoria, in the West Cheshire League, before moving on to be assistant manager at Rhyl F.C. and Cammell Laird.[3] He was appointed as manager of Colwyn Bay in September 2008, with Gary Jones as his assistant manager.[4] In his first season in charge, Colwyn Bay finished fourth in the Northern Premier League Division One North with 73 points from 40 games, falling to Newcastle Blue Star in the playoff semi-finals. His second season in charge was a near-replica, again finishing fourth, this time with 75 points from 42 matches.[5] However, on this occasion Colwyn Bay performed better in the playoffs, knocking out Curzon Ashton 2–1 in the playoff semi-final, and then beating Lancaster City 1–0 in the final to secure promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division.[6] However, despite securing promotion Young would never manage Colwyn Bay in the higher division.

Chester FC

In May 2010 Young left Colwyn Bay to become newly formed Chester's first manager, despite their initial allocation to the North West Counties League, two steps below the level which Colwyn Bay were scheduled to play at for the 2010–11 season following their promotion.[7] Following an appeal by Chester, however, the club was reassigned to the Northern Premier League Division One North, the same division in which Young had managed the previous season.[8] Young had to rapidly construct a squad for a higher division than expected. In doing so, he brought with him a number of players who had been with him at Colwyn Bay, such as Greg Stones and Mark Connolly.[9] Gary Jones joined him as his assistant again.

Despite this challenge, the club had immediate success under Young, rapidly establishing themselves at the top of the division, and at one point extending their lead as far as 12 points.[10] However, form slipped towards the end of the season, and the final day saw Chester needing at least a point to be certain of the title, although with a vastly superior goal difference to second-placed Skelmersdale United. Chester's shock 2–1 defeat at Garforth, after letting a half time lead slip, gave Skelmersdale the opportunity to take the title if they could beat already-relegated Ossett Albion. In the event, although Skelmersdale scored the required seven goals, they conceded two in doing so, and Chester won the title.[11]

The following season, Young again guided Chester to the title, this time of the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Unlike the previous season, Chester's league championship was on this occasion comfortable, as they won their division by 17 points ahead of Northwich Victoria, achieving a double of 100 points and 100 goals over the season.[12]

In the 2012–13 season, they contested the Peter Swales Shield and won it 3–0 against North Ferriby United. Chester FC set an immediate strong pace in the Conference North, winning 11 of their first 13 matches; subsequent to this, Young switched to a full-time manager role at Chester, from his previous part-time role.[13] Chester then proceeded to extend their lead at the top of the Conference North, winning twelve consecutive games before a goalless draw at Bradford PA prevented the Chester FC/ Chester City record of 13 consecutive victories being equalled.[14] Chester then went on to win the league title, breaking several league records along the way, achieving the most wins (33), fewest defeats (3), the most points (107), the most goals scored in a season (103) and the best goal difference (+71). Chester also broke the record for the longest unbeaten streak (30). They also won the Cheshire Senior Cup.

Awards

Honours

Managerial statistics

Team From To Record
GWDLWin %
Colwyn Bay 24 September 2008 20 May 2010 80 48 11 21 60.00
Chester 20 May 2010 8 January 2014 182 114 35 33 62.64
Total 262 162 46 54 61.83

References

  1. ↑ Kirkbride, Philip (29 May 2010). "Chester FC boss Neil Young reveals he was head-hunted for job". Liverpool Echo (UK).
  2. ↑ "Interview with the Boss". chesterfc.com. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  3. ↑ Wheelock, Paul (27 May 2010). "Chester FC: The Chronicle interview with new Blues boss Neil Young". Chester Chronicle (UK). Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Colwyn Bay appoint a new manager". BBC Sport. 24 September 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "History". Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  6. ↑ "Colwyn Bay FC promoted after beating Lancaster in ply-off final". Daily Post North Wales. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  7. ↑ "Colwyn Bay's Neil Young becomes first Chester manager". BBC Sport. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  8. ↑ Kirkbride, Philip (19 June 2010). "Chester FC win FA appeal to play in higher league". Liverpool Echo (UK). Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  9. ↑ Jones, Dave (29 January 2010). "Rhyl FC's Mark Connolly couldn't take Euro gamble". Daily Post North Wales (UK). Retrieved 23 October 2012./
  10. ↑ "Chester go twelve points clear". Pitchero Non-League. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "It Couldn't Have Been Closer: How Chester's Season went to the Wire". 1 May 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Chester FC 4 Marine 0: Double century achieved as Champions sign off in style". Chester Chronicle (UK). 21 April 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Chester FC question and answer with Neil Young as double title winning Blues boss prepares for 100th league game". Chester Chronicle (UK). 21 April 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  14. ↑ Wheelock, Paul (7 January 2013). "Chester FC: Blues boss Neil Young left baffled by Bradford Park Avenue draw". Chester Chronicle. UK. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  15. ↑ http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/evo-stik-league-premier-division-manager-of-the-month-6423/
  16. ↑ http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/evo-stik-managers-of-the-month---december-7382/
  17. ↑ http://evostikleague.pitchero.com/march-evo-stik-npl-march-managers-of-the-month-8516/
  18. ↑ Kirkbride, Philip (4 December 2010). "Chester FC's Neil Young named Evo-Stik First Division North manager of the month". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  19. ↑ "Matt makes up for lost time". Blue Square North. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  20. ↑ "Resurgent Chester promoted for second successive season". BBC Sport. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "Resurgent Chester promoted for second successive season". BBC Sport. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Colwyn Bay FC promoted after beating Lancaster in play-off final". Daily Post North Wales. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2013.