Neil Young (footballer born 1975)

Neil Young (born 1975) is an English football manager who is currently the manager of Conference North side Chester. He was previously manager of Colwyn Bay.

Playing career

Young began his playing career as a youth team player at Tranmere Rovers, playing as a midfield player. After being released by Tranmere, he moved first to Conwy United, and then to Droylsden. However, he suffered persistent problems with a dislocated shoulder, and after his fifth dislocation he retired from playing football aged only 24.

Managerial career

Colwyn Bay

Young started his managerial career with Poulton Victoria, in the West Cheshire League, before moving on to be assistant manager at Rhyl F.C. and Cammell Laird. He was appointed as manager of Colwyn Bay in September 2008, with Gary Jones as his assistant manager. In his first season in charge, Colwyn Bay finished fourth in the Northern Premier League Division One North with 73 points from 40 games, falling to Newcastle Blue Star in the playoff semi-finals. His second season in charge was a near-replica, again finishing fourth, this time with 75 points from 42 matches. However, on this occasion Colwyn Bay performed better in the playoffs, knocking out Curzon Ashton 2-1 in the playoff semi-final, and then beating Lancaster City 1-0 in the final to secure promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division. However, despite securing promotion Young would never manage Colwyn Bay in the higher division.

Chester FC

In May 2010 Young left Colwyn Bay to become newly-formed Chester's first manager, despite their initial allocation to the North West Counties League, two steps below the level which Colwyn Bay were scheduled to play at for the 2010-11 season following their promotion. Following an appeal by Chester, however, the club was reassigned to the Northern Premier League Division One North, the same division in which Young had managed the previous season. Young had to rapidly construct a squad for a higher division than expected. In doing so, he brought with him a number of players who had been with him at Colwyn Bay, such as Greg Stones and Mark Connolly.

Despite this challenge, the club had immediate success under Young, rapidly establishing themselves at the top of the division, and at one point extending their lead as far as 12 points. However, form slipped towards the end of the season, and the final day saw Chester needing at least a point to be certain of the title, although with a vastly superior goal difference to second-placed Skelmersdale United. Chester's shock 2-1 defeat at Garforth, after letting a half time lead slip, gave Skelmersdale the opportunity to take the title if they could beat already-relegated Ossett Albion. In the event, although Skelmersdale scored the required seven goals, they conceded two in doing so, and Chester won the title.

The following season, Young again guided Chester to the title, this time of the Northern Premier League Premier Division. Unlike the previous season, Chester's league championship was on this occasion comfortable, as they won their division by 17 points ahead of Northwich Victoria, achieving a double of 100 points and 100 goals over the season.

In the 2012/13 season, Chester FC set an immediate strong pace in the Blue Square North, winning 11 of their first 13 matches; subsequent to this, Young switched to a full-time manager role at Chester, from his previous part-time role. Chester then proceeded to extend their lead at the top of the Blue Square North, winning twelve consecutive games before a goalless draw at Bradford PA prevented the Chester FC/ Chester City record of 13 consecutive victories being equalled.

Awards

NPL Premier Division Manager of the Month: September 2011, December 2011, March 2012

NPL Division One North Manager of the Month: November 2010

Conference North Manager of the Month: December 2012

Honours

NPL Premier Division Championship 2011/12 (with Chester FC)

NPL Division One North Championship 2010/11 (with Chester FC)

NPL Division One North Playoff Winners 2009/10 (with Colwyn Bay)

References

ru:Янг, Нил (тренер)