Superheroes Number 2 - George Young Over the years Albion have been blessed by a succession of talented goalkeepers who have served the club for long spells. The record for appearances by a goalkeeper is held by George Young, our first choice custodian from 1969 until 1978. He made a total of 438 appearances for the club. George was signed from Edinburgh-based Juvenile side Melbourne Thistle by Willie McFarlane when he was a manager at Annfield. He made his debut in a 2-2 draw at Clydebank. Young was tremendously agile and frequently saved his team mates with superb saves. Like most goalkeepers he was prone to the occasional blunder, but they did nothing to lessen his popularity with the Albion support.
He missed just five games in 1969/70, one in 1970/71, and was ever present in 1971/72, 1972/73, 1973/74 and 1974/75. He missed 3 games in 1975/76, but was ever present again in 1976/77. In 1977/78 George was absent on one occasion, and in 1978/79 twice. The goalies who deputised for him in that period were Gordon Millar, Brian Howie and Gordon Arthur. His transfer to Rangers for £20,000 in 1979 came as a surprise to both him and the club. The Ibrox side required his as cover for their European campaign. George spent a couple of years a full-timer at Ibrox before moving back to part-time football with Dunfermline Athletic and then East Stirlingshire. George is second in the all-time Albion appearance list, behind Matt McPhee and rates as without doubt the finest goalkeeper the club have ever had. | 