Neil Young (footballer, born 1979)

Neil Young
Personal information
Full nameNeil Young
Date of birth14 August 1979
Place of birthPerth, Australia
Height1.87 m (6 ft 1 12 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Perth Glory
Number20
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1998–2008Sorrento FC303(0)
2008–2009Melbourne Knights26(0)
2009–2011Newcastle Jets9(0)
2011–2013Perth Glory0(0)
Teams managed
2011-Perth Glory (GK Coach)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:47, 13 November 2010 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Neil Young is a goalkeeper who plays for A-League club Perth Glory. Playing the majority of his career in the Football West State League with Sorrento FC Young had trials with Crewe Alexandra, Stockport County and Bournemouth FC in England before moving to Victoria to play for the Melbourne Knights in 2008.

Club career

Newcastle Jets

Signed just prior to the beginning of the 2009-10 Hyundai A-League season as back-up to young Novocastrian goalkeeper Ben Kennedy, Young made his debut for the Jets at EnergyAustralia Stadium on 8 November 2009 against North Queensland Fury after a Kennedy was forced out during the warm-up by a groin injury. Although rarely called upon due to the good form of Newcastle's defence, Young enjoyed a solid debut performance and kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 victory.[1][2]

In the Jets' clash against Gold Coast United on 13 January, Young was kicked in the face by Gold Coast striker Shane Smeltz when diving on a loose ball in the 18-yard box.[3] The injury sidelined Young for the final four games of the regular season and an adverse reaction to medication meant the 30 year-old shot stopper missed the play-off final which Newcastle won 6-5 on penalties.[4] Young was left fighting for his life and remained in intensive care for more than 6 weeks, losing 20 kilograms (25% of his body weight) in the process.[5][6][7] Doctors had to remove his large intestine and he stopped producing white blood cells in addition to bone marrow failure.[8]

Perth Glory

On 28 February 2011, Young signed a two-year contract with A-League outfit Perth Glory, as the substitute goalkeeper to Danny Vuković.[9]

A-League career statistics

(Correct as of 19 February 2012)

Club Season League Finals Asia Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Newcastle Jets 2009-10 900------900
2010-11 000------000
Perth Glory 2011-12 000------000
Total 900------ 900

References

External links