Ross County Database

1958-1965 Alex Young

In June 1958 the County management committee appointed Alex Young, the former Aberdeen centre half, as player coach of the club. Young ultimately was appointed into the Aberdeen Hall of Fame.

Young’s first game in charge of the club saw a 4-2 defeat from Clach in the League Cup at Grant Street Park. The County team was MacKay, Stewart, Duncan, MacDonald, Young, Leckie, Pirie, Ogilvie, Urquhart, Ross and Grant. The County scorers were Tommy Urquhart and Chic Ogilvie. Young expressed some optimism for the future however was disappointed with their next game, a 5-2 defeat at home to Inverness Thistle in front of a crowd of 800.

Young also had to contend with the start of a period of financial troubles for the club and early in his rein Frank Thomson led the club into being a public limited company and offered shares in the club with the intention of raising £4000 in forty days.

County then recorded their first victory under Young as they defeated Caley 3-I in the League Cup. Cathel Melville, the former Clach centre forward scored a double. In the return leg and Young scored his first goal for County, a penalty in a 3-0 victory. Melville scored again as did Chic Ogilvie in front of a Victoria Park crowd of 1200.

County just missed out on a semi final place, a 1-1 draw against Inverness Thistle was a decent improvement but the team had to win the tie to qualify.

Sime Waldie received a testimonial at the end of August and Young’s County side beat a Highland League Select 5-1. The select had 8 players from either Caley or Clach!

The County share issue was not going well with less than £100 being raised in the first six weeks (42 days….). However, by the end of October a “last minute” rush ensured that all 400 shares were sold allowing Young some confidence to take his plans forward for the future.

Young took County into the Scottish Cup thanks to a quarter final Qualifying Cup win at Huntly. Fraserburgh knocked County out of the Qualifying semi final however. Peebles Rovers knocked County out of the National tournament with a 2-0 win at Peebles. This was also the day that Fraserburgh famously knocked 1st Division Dundee out of the Scottish Cup.

County’s last chance for honours that season went when they lost 1-0 to Inverness Thistle in the North of Scotland Cup. County finished Young’s first league season in mid table with 26 points from 28 games.

For what seems to be the first time in County’s history a “manager” showed a bit of longevity and Young remained at County for some time. His last recorded competitve appearance was an 8-2 defeat from Caley in the League on 4th January 1964. He did also play in the post season tour of Lewis. One of the additions to the team in his time was Sammy Wilson who had a longer term goal of getting into coaching, he announced his retirement from playing for the start of the 64/5 season to get more involved in coaching. Young retained his position on the team selection management committee. Something else worth exploring for modern football fans!

The one trophy won in Young’s time as manager was the 59/60 Inverness Cup. Again a slightly unusual set up as the games all appeared to be played under the floodlights of Telford Street. County played three ties against Clach, Nairn and Caley, winning them all with an aggregate of 7-3, thus winning the trophy. Perhaps Young should also be credited with the 64/5 Inverness Cup, at which stage as far as I can ascertain he was still a leading light in the Selection Committee although Sammy Wilson was heavily involved in leading the coaching. A team effort perhaps?