Terrence Young, born 24 December 1952, Urmston, Lancashire, England.
PART ONE
Tony Young started out his footballing career as an apprentice at local club Manchester United in August 1968, at the age of 15. While at Old Trafford, the dedicated defender amassed a total of 97 first-team appearances for the Manchester Reds between 1970 and 1975, hitting one goal during the process.
When Young was called up to Manchester United at the beginning of the 1968-69 season, Matt Busby´s team were the holders of the coveted European Cup after having defeated Portuguese team Benfica by 4-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium on the 29th of May 1968. A versatile full-back, he went on to make his First Division debut for Manchester United in a closely contested 1-1 draw with Ron Greenwood´s West Ham United at Old Trafford on the 29th of August 1970, at the age of 17.
On 3 November 1973, Young registered his only league goal for Manchester United in an evenly contested 2-2 draw against Chelsea. Following a nightmare start to the 1973-74 season, Tommy Docherty’s men were alarmingly close to the relegation zone and desperately needed points.
In front of an attendance of more than 48,000 spectators at Old Trafford, the Pensioneers stormed into an early lead in the second minute of the match as Peter Houseman sent a clever pass to Tommy Baldwin who put the ball past home custodian Alex Stepney and into the far bottom corner of the net. Houseman was again the provider four minutes into the second half of the encounter when the winger crossed for Peter Osgood whose header from just outside the six-yard box beat a fully stretched Stepney.
Manchester United looked to have lost the game, but the hosts staged a stunning late comeback as Young scored with a ferocious shot in the 89th minute after being set up by fellow defender Brian Greenhoff, and only a minute later the former found the latter inside the penalty area, who in turn unleashed an unstoppable effort past visiting goalkeeper Peter Bonetti and into the bottom left corner of the net to make it two-all.
PART TWO
Although Tony Young was part of the Manchester United side that eventually suffered relegation to Division Two in 1974, he kept his place in the squad and helped them win promotion back to Division One at first attempt.
Manchester United began the 1974-75 season with a display of intent, travelling to Orient on 17 August 1974 and securing a confidence-boosting 2-0 victory, with goals that reflected both precision and energy, setting the tone for a campaign where consistency would be paramount.
The following week, a 4-0 demolition of Millwall at Old Trafford demonstrated the attacking firepower at Docherty’s disposal, as United’s forwards linked effortlessly and midfielders dominated possession, giving supporters hope that the club’s drop in status was merely a temporary setback. The momentum continued with a 2-1 home win over Portsmouth on 28 August, followed by a 1-0 away victory at Cardiff City on 31 August, highlighting not only the squad’s depth but also their ability to grind out wins in challenging environments.
Yet, despite these early triumphs, the season would not be without its stumbles. A 2-2 draw at home against Nottingham Forest on 7 September and a 1-1 stalemate at West Bromwich Albion on 14 September reminded fans that second-division life, while less glamorous, demanded focus, tactical discipline, and resilience, especially against opponents eager to claim scalps from a club of United’s stature. In particular, these results underscored that while the Doc had restored confidence, consistency was still the key to championship glory.
In addition to league fixtures, Manchester United began their League Cup journey with an emphatic 5-1 home win over Charlton Athletic on 11 September, a match that showcased the team’s offensive dynamism, with forward lines slicing through opposition defenses and midfield creativity dictating the tempo. Furthermore, a 1-0 League Cup victory over Manchester City on 9 October provided both bragging rights and momentum, reinforcing Docherty’s vision of a squad capable of blending disciplined defending with incisive attacks.
Back in the league, a 1-0 win at Millwall on 16 September, a 2-0 victory over Bristol Rovers on 21 September, and a 3-0 thrashing of Bolton Wanderers on 25 September kept United firmly atop the Second Division, although a 2-0 defeat at Norwich City on 28 September offered a cautionary reminder that no team could afford complacency. Correspondingly, each result built upon the last, reflecting the delicate balance between ambition and reality in Docherty’s meticulously managed campaign.
October and November brought a mixture of domination and frustration. A victory at Fulham (2-1) and home wins against Notts County (1-0) and Southampton (1-0) reinforced United’s credentials as promotion favourites, while a 0-0 draw at Portsmouth on 15 October and a 4-4 thrill at Sheffield Wednesday on 7 December reminded the club that defensive lapses and unpredictability could threaten momentum. Nevertheless, the red shirts demonstrated character and adaptability, particularly in high-pressure encounters, ensuring that the campaign’s narrative remained one of dominance tempered by occasional adversity.
What’s more, the League Cup provided further proof of Manchester United’s ambition, with a 3-2 victory over Burnley on 13 November and a 3-0 demolition of Middlesbrough on 18 December, signalling that Docherty’s men could mix cup exploits with league responsibilities without losing focus or intensity. In consequence, the campaign began to take on the shape of a relentless pursuit of the Second Division title, with fans confident that silverware and promotion were within reach.
The winter months presented unique challenges, beginning with a 0-0 FA Cup draw at Walsall on 4 January, followed by a 3-2 defeat in the replay three days later, a result that stung but also allowed Docherty to refocus on league supremacy. Similarly, losses at Bristol City (1-0) on 1 February and Oxford United (1-0) on 8 February highlighted the pressures of sustaining form across multiple competitions, and yet the team responded with victories at home over Hull City (2-0) on 15 February and Cardiff City (4-0) on 1 March, demonstrating resilience and a refusal to allow setbacks to derail their championship ambitions.
In particular, the ability to rebound after defeats exemplified Docherty’s influence on the squad’s mentality, instilling a belief that setbacks were temporary, lessons to be learned, and that promotion was non-negotiable. Furthermore, a 1-1 home draw with Norwich City on 15 March and a crucial 1-0 away win at Nottingham Forest on 22 March illustrated the balance between caution and attack, with the team combining tactical discipline with moments of individual brilliance to maintain their grip on first place.
As the season approached its climax, Manchester United’s dominance became undeniable. A series of victories, including a 2-1 win over York City on 29 March, a 3-2 triumph against Oldham Athletic on 31 March, and a 1-0 victory at Southampton on 5 April, cemented their position atop the Division Two table, while their 1-0 victory against Fulham on 12 April and a 4-0 demolition of Blackpool on 26 April served as emphatic statements that promotion was secured not merely through results but through style, intent, and character.
Equally, the team’s ability to navigate draws, setbacks, and cup distractions without losing focus on their league objective reflected both Docherty’s managerial acumen and the players’ determination, creating a narrative of redemption and triumph that would resonate with supporters long after the final whistle of the season.
PART THREE
Unfortunately, Tony Young would eventually find his first-team opportunities at Manchester United exceedingly limited due to the excellent form of fellow full backs Alex Forsyth and Stewart Houston.
At the age of 22, Young played his swan song game for Manchester United when he entered the field as a first-half substitute for Tommy Jackson in a narrow 1-0 First Division defeat against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on the 13th of September 1975. And as things turned out, he finally moved on to Charlton Athletic on a free transfer midway through the 1975-76 season after making 83 league appearances for United.
Established in 1905, Charlton had spent much of its history working, adjusting, and pushing its way through English football with a mix of ambition and resilience. Athletic went on to win the FA Cup in the 1947 when they edged out Burnley by 1-0 at Wembley, but eventually suffered relegation to Division Two ten years later.
From the late 1950s through the early 1970s, Charlton would settle into life as a steady Second Division side, offering enough stability to avoid panic but not enough consistency to threaten the very top end of the table. Still, football rarely holds its equilibrium for long, and the Addicks found this out when they slipped into the Third Division in 1972. However, the club climbed again and after three seasons of Division Three football, they would gain promotion back to the Second Division in 1975.
While at The Valley, Young managed to rack up 20 league appearances for the South East London club before manager Andy Nelson deemed him surplus to requirements, and he was subsequently transferred to newly relegated Third Division club York City at the beginning of the 1976-77 campaign.
After appearing in 70 League matches for the Bootham Crescent team between 1976 and 1978, he tried out his luck with non-League Cheshire side Runcorn where he would finish his playing days. In total, Tony Young appeared in 181 Football League matches and scored four goals during his playing career.
According to Robert Baden Powell, football is a grand game for developing a lad physically and also morally, for he learns to play with good temper and unselfishness, to play in his place, and to play the game, and these are the best of training for any game of life. How very true, indeed.