Ernie Young

Life and career

Young was born and raised in Sunderland, The 1911 Census records the 18-year-old Young working as a clerk. After the war, he joined South Shields, newly elected to the Second Division for the first post-war Football League season. An injury near the start of the season "seriously handicapped" his club, but once restored to fitness he soon returned to goalscoring form. Durham City were elected to the newly formed Football League Third Division North in 1921, and Young scored their first Football League goal after ten minutes of the opening match of the season, away to Southport. By the end of the year, he had reached double figures himself as well as creating goals for team-mates. He finished the campaign with 13 goals from 29 matches, which made him the team's second highest scorer. He was appointed captain for their second season, and was again second highest scorer, but with only 5 goals from 21 league matches as Durham City finished bottom of the division. That was the end of his Football League career, although he continued playing for Spennymoor United of the North-Eastern League.