Alex Young 1937-2017

We pay tribute to the great man, the player known as The Golden Vision, who graced Goodison Park from 1960-68, one of the finest talents of his generation, who was adored by Evertonians

Quite simply one of the finest players to ever wear the Royal Blue of Everton.

And how proud he was to do it.

Everton Football Club was deeply saddened at the passing of one of Goodison’s greatest sons, The Golden Vision, Alex Young, last month.

But the adoration, affection and respect from people from across the globe for the legendary Scot provided fitting tributes to a wonderful footballer and great man.

Young, a title winner with the Blues in 1962/63 and part of the side that famously came from 2-0 down against Sheffield Wednesday to lift the FA Cup three years later, passed away on 27 February, aged 80.

A centre-forward who combined elegant skill with a boundless determination and passion, he was an icon of his era, a player who glided across even the heaviest of surfaces, shimmying and tricking his way past defenders before effortlessly floating shots past baffled goalkeepers.

In total, Young appeared 273 times for the Blues after joining from Hearts in 1960, netting on 87 occasions before departing for Glentoran in 1968.

He was named an Everton Giant in 2000.

“We are all very sad and will miss him terribly,” said Young’s son, Alex Junior. “He passed away peacefully with my mum by his side at a small hospital close to Edinburgh.

“He had been ill for a few weeks but he battled on bravely. It’s still very raw but I wanted the people on Merseyside to know.

“He loved Everton, he loved being back at Goodison Park. He always said it was like going to church.”

For a true legend of Everton and football in general, tributes flooded in for The Golden Vision…

BILL KENWRIGHT CBE,

Everton Chairman

Legend is a much and often overused word these days.