We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our Scottish former defender Willie Young, who died at the age of 73 on Friday.
Joining us from Aberdeen in September, 1975, the commanding centre-half made his debut under manager Terry Neill in a 1-1 draw at Leeds United on 20 September that year and would go on to feature in all of our 43 remaining matches that season. He also scored three goals in 1975/76, his first coming at White Hart Lane in a 2-1 win over Wolves during that November.
The following season, he was virtually ever-present during the first half of the campaign and netted in an eventful 2-2 draw with Arsenal in N17 on 27 December, 1976. However, that turned out to be one of his last games for us during a difficult season and he became one of the few players to cross the north London divide when he joined the Gunners in March, 1977.
Born in Heriot near Edinburgh on 25 November, 1951, Willie first came to prominence with Aberdeen, who he joined in June, 1969. A whole-hearted, enthusiastic defender who was strong in the air and loved a tackle, he spent over six years with the Dons and had scored 14 goals in 188 appearances when he headed south to White Hart Lane.
After 237 appearances and 19 goals for the Gunners, he spent two seasons with Nottingham Forest before later spells with Norwich City, Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) and Darlington. He hung up his boots in November, 1984, and spent his retirement in the Nottingham area, where he ran a pub and a cattery.
We extend our sincerest condolences to Willie’s family and friends at this sad time.