TOM YOUNGS
Everyone associated with Cambridge United FC was shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Tom Youngs earlier this year, But, let’s be perfectly clear, this is not why Tom is being inducted today into the United Hall of Fame. Tom served the U’s with distinction across six seasons, a genuine fans’ favourite, scoring 48 goals in 180 appearances in amber and black. Tom was United’s leading goalscorer for two successive seasons between 2000 and 2002 and sits 11th in the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.
Tom was United through and through. He was part of the club’s youth set up from the age on nine and was signed on YTS terms aged 16. Such was his promise he was quickly awarded a two-year professional contract by Roy McFarland at the end of the 96-97 season. David Batch, his youth team manager, described Tom at the time as ‘a very intelligent player,’ adding ‘he takes up brilliant attacking positions and just seems to ghost into open spaces.’ I think many U’s fans here tonight, who had the pleasure of watching Tom play, would recognise him from those words alone.
He wasn’t the biggest on the pitch but his movement off the ball and his clinical finishing ability in front of goal would put him right up there with the best strikers or attacking midfielders to play for the U’s. Andrew Bennett, who usually hit the nail on the head, described Tom in his early days at the club as ‘will-o’-the-whisp.’
Tom made his first team debut at the start of the 97-98 season, a late sub for Michael Kyd in the 4-1 thumping of Colchester, and made his first start later that year vs Bristol Rovers. Tom started six times as United won promotion to the third tier in 1998-99 – his game time understandably restricted given that Trevor Benjamin, Martin Butler and John Taylor (all fellow Hall of Famers) were ahead of the teenage Tom in the strikers pecking order. He scored his first competitive U’s goal at Gillingham in October 1999, in the higher division. He wasn’t fully fit that day, his manager admitted, having experienced a growth spurt that led to a series of back and hamstring injuries. Tom scored nine goals that campaign, in just 13 appearances.
His best return for the club came in 2000-01 when he scored 15 goals from 35 starts as John Beck returned to replace Roy McFarland and United escaped relegation. The U’s couldn’t beat the drop the following season but Tom again scored regularly, finishing on 11, and he started at the Millenium Stadium in the LDV Vans Trophy final under John Taylor. Shaggy was a big fan of Tom’s and had this to say about him after he scored a brace in the 5-0 demolition of Shrewsbury: “I don’t think you’ll find a forward in the lower divisions who understands the game as well as Tom Youngs. The runs he makes and the positions he takes up, as well as the way he brings other players into the game, are all excellent … and he goes in bravely.” High praise from United’s greatest ever football league goalscorer. Tom’s emerging partnership that season with Dave Kitson was as good as any the Abbey had seen.
Tom was, famously, taking his A levels when he first signed for the U’s and was regularly reminded of this in song from the Newmarket Road End. In fact, at the time, he had thought long and hard about studying law instead of playing professional football. Tom’s reputation as one of the brighter footballers in the country was cemented when he beat Oxford United’s Andy Scott (Oxford vs Cambridge) on national radio in a BBC Five Live version of University Challenge in January 2003. His winning answer? The Cheeky Girls!
It was a genuine surprise when Tom departed the Abbey after 13 years on deadline day in March 2003. Fans knew the club’s finances weren’t good but his transfer to Northampton for £50,000 still looked like daylight robbery. The truth was Tom was ambitious and wanted some longer-term security (how precedent was that?) which United couldn’t afford. Paul Wanless wished ‘Statto’ well when he left, and said: “At least with Tom going, everyone in the changing room will understand each other, because we don’t use any of the big words he was always coming out with.’
Tom helped Northampton to promotion from Division Three the following season and went on to play for Orient and Bury before dropping into non-league football, which allowed him time to take a sports journalism degree. Tom had to retire from football at the age of 32 due to a hip problem, the specialist advising him to give up not just football but all strenuous exercise. Even more devastating news was to come in 2015 when Tom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Tom published his autobiography in following year.
Tom Youngs is one of our own, a true Cambridge United legend.
RIP Tom.
Watch Tom Youngs being interviewed in 2016 below at the What Dreams Are (Not Quite) Made Of. Book Launch
Everyone associated with Cambridge United FC was shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Tom Youngs earlier this year, But, let’s be perfectly clear, this is not why Tom is being inducted today into the United Hall of Fame. Tom served the U’s with distinction across six seasons, a genuine fans’ favourite, scoring 48 goals in 180 appearances in amber and black. Tom was United’s leading goalscorer for two successive seasons between 2000 and 2002 and sits 11th in the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.
Tom was United through and through. He was part of the club’s youth set up from the age on nine and was signed on YTS terms aged 16. Such was his promise he was quickly awarded a two-year professional contract by Roy McFarland at the end of the 96-97 season. David Batch, his youth team manager, described Tom at the time as ‘a very intelligent player,’ adding ‘he takes up brilliant attacking positions and just seems to ghost into open spaces.’ I think many U’s fans here tonight, who had the pleasure of watching Tom play, would recognise him from those words alone.
He wasn’t the biggest on the pitch but his movement off the ball and his clinical finishing ability in front of goal would put him right up there with the best strikers or attacking midfielders to play for the U’s. Andrew Bennett, who usually hit the nail on the head, described Tom in his early days at the club as ‘will-o’-the-whisp.’
Tom made his first team debut at the start of the 97-98 season, a late sub for Michael Kyd in the 4-1 thumping of Colchester, and made his first start later that year vs Bristol Rovers. Tom started six times as United won promotion to the third tier in 1998-99 – his game time understandably restricted given that Trevor Benjamin, Martin Butler and John Taylor (all fellow Hall of Famers) were ahead of the teenage Tom in the strikers pecking order. He scored his first competitive U’s goal at Gillingham in October 1999, in the higher division. He wasn’t fully fit that day, his manager admitted, having experienced a growth spurt that led to a series of back and hamstring injuries. Tom scored nine goals that campaign, in just 13 appearances.
His best return for the club came in 2000-01 when he scored 15 goals from 35 starts as John Beck returned to replace Roy McFarland and United escaped relegation. The U’s couldn’t beat the drop the following season but Tom again scored regularly, finishing on 11, and he started at the Millenium Stadium in the LDV Vans Trophy final under John Taylor. Shaggy was a big fan of Tom’s and had this to say about him after he scored a brace in the 5-0 demolition of Shrewsbury: “I don’t think you’ll find a forward in the lower divisions who understands the game as well as Tom Youngs. The runs he makes and the positions he takes up, as well as the way he brings other players into the game, are all excellent … and he goes in bravely.” High praise from United’s greatest ever football league goalscorer. Tom’s emerging partnership that season with Dave Kitson was as good as any the Abbey had seen.
Tom was, famously, taking his A levels when he first signed for the U’s and was regularly reminded of this in song from the Newmarket Road End. In fact, at the time, he had thought long and hard about studying law instead of playing professional football. Tom’s reputation as one of the brighter footballers in the country was cemented when he beat Oxford United’s Andy Scott (Oxford vs Cambridge) on national radio in a BBC Five Live version of University Challenge in January 2003. His winning answer? The Cheeky Girls!
It was a genuine surprise when Tom departed the Abbey after 13 years on deadline day in March 2003. Fans knew the club’s finances weren’t good but his transfer to Northampton for £50,000 still looked like daylight robbery. The truth was Tom was ambitious and wanted some longer-term security (how precedent was that?) which United couldn’t afford. Paul Wanless wished ‘Statto’ well when he left, and said: “At least with Tom going, everyone in the changing room will understand each other, because we don’t use any of the big words he was always coming out with.’
Tom helped Northampton to promotion from Division Three the following season and went on to play for Orient and Bury before dropping into non-league football, which allowed him time to take a sports journalism degree. Tom had to retire from football at the age of 32 due to a hip problem, the specialist advising him to give up not just football but all strenuous exercise. Even more devastating news was to come in 2015 when Tom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Tom published his autobiography in following year.
Tom Youngs is one of our own, a true Cambridge United legend.
RIP Tom.
Watch Tom Youngs being interviewed in 2016 below at the What Dreams Are (Not Quite) Made Of. Book Launch
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