shannon2007

It was almost six thirty in the evening, Jason junior, now sixteen months old, had just dropped off to sleep after his feed and Jason Young senior was settling down to watch some telly with his missus when the phone rang. Bethany answered the call as she was nearest the phone - and because Jason assumed it was probably yet another little bloke in asia asking if they would like to buy double glazing, or a new patio, or life insurance. Beth though seemed to know the person on the other end, and after a few minutes she handed the phone to Jason.

'It's Rob' She said, 'He seems to have some possible good news'

Jason took the phone, 'Hi Rob, whats up?'

Rob Johnston was Jason Young's agent. 'Jason. Now don't dismiss this out of hand, but I think I may have found you a club. It will mean moving, but they are offering a decent part time contract and there's a good chance Beth could get a teaching job in a local school.'

Jason felt unsure already 'Ok mate, tell me the worst'

'Well it's in Bradford' Rob continued and Jason brightened up a bit. Bradford City were interested in him? Well, now that was something worth considering. 'Bradford Park Avenue to be precise'

Jason's spirits dropped. Bradford Park Avenue? What the hell division were they in?

'I know what you're thinking' Rob said almost over eagerly, 'But its a decent contract, they've just gotten into the Conference and it could be a step to something bigger!'

At 28 years old, Jason Young knew that line off by heart. His biggest club to date had been Livingston, but a career threatening injury had ended his time there just as he thought he was starting to make an impression. Everytime a club had come calling throughout his career, Rob had been there with his step to something bigger line, but the step had never come and Jason was starting to feel that mibbe it was time to pack up his footballing career and find something else. He had responsibilities now, and he couldn't keep holding on to what was seeming more and more to be an impossible dream.

Jason was unsure, but he didn't want to dismiss it out of hand, he knew Rob would have worked hard to get anywhere near this deal and he didn't want to hurt his feelings. Rob was not just an agent, but over the years he had also become a very close friend.

'I'll have to think about it Rob, and discuss it with Beth. We'll get back to you asap mate, no worries. Thanks again!'

Jason hung up and then explained to Beth what was going on. To his surprise his wife didn't dismiss the idea out of hand.

'Sure it would be an upheaval, but Robs right I could probably find a teaching job easily enough in Bradford and it's not as if its really all that far away is it? At the very least I think we should go down there and take a look, there's no point living with regrets and I know you Jason Young, if you don't at least look you'll end up wishing you had'

And as always, Bethany was absolutely correct.

shannon2007

For those of you who don't know, Jason Young was one of the star players in the early years of my legendary story about Bradford Park Avenue. When he was signed, it was pretty much as a stop gap, and in the squad listing I wrote about him 'probably won't get many games'. That still makes me smile.

For those of you who do know, I hope you'll still read, even though you know the outcome.

This is something I've been wanting to do for a while, to re-write part of that story from the angle of Jason Young, and to give him his own deserved place in CM/FM S folklore. This is his tribute.

shannon2007

Scottish football over the years has produced many fine players. Players such as Denis Law, Jim Baxter, Jimmy Johnstone, player who could make your hair stand on end, emboldened by raw Scots passion and equiped with the skills of a Brazilian, and usually with a personality set to self destruct. That is the Scottish way, you can't have the skill without the passion, and with that usually comes trouble. There are many players boasting Scots nationality who could proudly wear the dark blue of their country and who would without doubt walk into most other teams, in most eras.

Jason Young certainly isn't one of their ilk.

Young is, at best, a workman like centre forward, a reject from the thirties where football was a mans game and if you dived like a wee girl you had little chance of getting back up again - ever. Like all kids, he dreamt of turning out for Scotland, of scoring the winning goal against England at Wembley, of leading his team to the League title, the Scottish Cup, European glory. Like 99% of people who have ever played the game, Jason Young, 28 years old, had won absolutely nothing of note. He had played for a handful of clubs, could occasionally strike a rich vein of form that would bring the goals and a touted move to better things, and then something, inevitably would go wrong - usually injury - and Jason was once more living off the dole and looking for his next way back into the game he loved. At Livingston he seemed to have it made at last. Not the greatest club in the world, but a club on the rise and a club from which he was sure he could relaunch his career and in the words of his agent, use it as a stepping stone to bigger things.

To say Jason Young was a legend at Livingston would be overstating the issue rather dramatically. He was at best an ordinary player, he provided goals on occassion enough that he wouldn't be kicked out the door but he was never going to break the club records. Nevertheless, he was attracting attention from bigger clubs, notably Hearts and Celtic were allegedly interested. And thats when he broke his cruciate ligament.

When his contract expired, still on his way to recuperation, Livingston did not want to take the risk on a player who seemed to pick up injuries at the most inopportune time, and they allowed him to leave - to find himself a new club. Yet as the summer went by, there were no new clubs and no-one seemed interested in signing a 28 year old striker with a dodgy knee. If Bradford Park Avenue hadn't come calling when they did, Jason might well have hung up his boots. After visiting the club, he might well still do so but for nothing else than curiosity, Jason Young felt he had to at least see what was on offer.

The trip to Bradford was straight forward. Jason with his wife and agent arrived at the stadium, nothing of note to see, it was like any other stadium of a small time club and Jason felt neither positive or negative as he went throught the main doors to be greeted by a dottery looking old lady in a stripped pinafore who showed him to a small room and then left. A few minutes later, the old dear came back in with a tray,

'You'll be fair famished after your long journey' She told them, 'There's nothing quite like a cup of tea now, is there?'

Jason had to admit the tea tasted good and he was starting to relax and get a good feeling about this place. A few minutes later the door opened again and two men came in.

'Hi I'm Frank Thornton' The older man said smiling, holding out a hand, 'And this is the club manager, Dave Green'

As Jason took hold of Green's hand, he felt a strange feeling, almost a surge of knowledge, of power, but most of all an overwhelming liking for this total stranger and in that instance he decided that whatever happened, he would today sign for Bradford Park Avenue. And he was not totally unaware of the lingering look his would be new manager was giving his wife - nor indeed of her own, almost teenage blushings as the man kissed her cheek.

'We're a family club here' Thornton, who totally lacked the charisma of Green, told them, 'And if you like what you see and we like you, then I'm sure you will be very happy here'

'I'm sure everything will work out just fine' Green added, and with no trace of doubt, Jason Young fully believed that it would.

retired_steffani

Didn't read the original and won't now to see what happens here another fine start sir :thup:

retired_karamelkel

I'll be reading this. Been a whie since I read the original.

Raptor

FFS, can't you stay dead?

shannon2007

Fs just give the whole plot away why don't you

I feel the need to indulge myself ok :p

retired_smgivens

Never saw the original, so i'll make sure to keep an eye on this.

shannon2007

Sometimes managers will promise you the earth in the hope that you'll play along with whatever little games they are playing, then they sack you for looking at them the wrong way. Dave Green made no promises to Jason, except that if he buckled down, trained hard and showed willing he would eventually get his chance. There was no way, and it was made quite clear to Jason, there was no way he would be first choice, second choice or even get a place on the bench. With a 2 year, full time contract on £325 a week though, and with Bethany finding a job in a local primary school, they family were at least financially secure enough. They certainly would not starve to death.

The squad of players that Green had assembled were a good enough bunch, a mixture of youth an experience and Jason naturally inclined to the older players in the team and formed a close bond with goalkeeper Gavin Kelly, and Dutch striker Bert Stokkingreef, even though the 31 year old Dutchman was one of those stopping Jason from getting a game. With no playing time in the preseason friendlies, Jason was on the bench for the Conference opener away to Kettering, but as he sat there watching his teammates complete a 5-1 demolition job, although he was happy for the team, Jason began to realise that he might not get a game here and perhaps he had made a mistake coming in the first place. Yet that surely was just silly thinking, and eventually if he just stuck at it, he would get his chance. And when he did, he would have to make sure he took it with both hands.

It was not easy though as five games came and went and Jason had not had a sniff of a game. With the team playing well, unbeaten and the strikers scoring for fun, it was difficult not to become depressed as Jason saw that his chances of getting a game were slim at best. Yet Dave Green assured him his time would come, and somehow when the manager spoke, you could not help but listen. And the chance eventually did come, as due to injury and tiredness, Jason was named in the team that face Rushford & Diamonds away. He could not contain his excitement as he ran out onto the park, determined to do well and repay the faith the manager had shown in him. And of course make it impossible for Green to drop him.

The match started at a blistering pace, and as the home side dominated so Jason saw little of the ball and by the time twenty minutes had flown past, the Avenue were two nil down and their unbeaten record was on the brink. Jason tried his best, and finally a half decent chance came, but the ball seemed to bobble akwardly, and his effort sailed over the bar. Two minutes later Rushden had a third and this was not turning into a dream debut. One minute from half time, Jason laid the ball into the path of Dutch striker partner Patrick Vrijsen, and he did not screw up as he gave his team a little bit of a lifeline. But at three one down at half time, things were looking bleak.

In the dressing room, the manager did not scream and shout at the players. That wasn't his way. Jason was feeling a bit dissapointed, feeling for sure he had let his fellow players and his manager down somehow. Green came over and quietly told him to keep plugging away, this was always going to be a tough match but the chances would come. Just relax and take them. Two minutes into the second half, as the Avenue attacked, Vrijsen hit a shot that the Rushden keeper could only parry and Jason could hardly believe his luck as the ball broke in front of him and this time he did not miss the target.

As the match wore on, so Jason found more of the ball coming his way, and although he skewed a couple of efforts, eventually the ball arrived from a corner, Jason rose to meet it and although heading was not his strong point he nevertheless got the touch to put the ball into the net and remarkably it was all square. Time was passing so quick that it was impossible to know how long had gone, but it seemed to Jason as if he had hardly scored when Rushden went right up the park and made four three. All his efforts, and those of his teammates seemed in vain after such a glorious fightback. Still though they pressed forward as the darkening sky told them that time was running out and a long ball through from Gavin Kelly reached Jason as he raced clear of the Rushden defence. Jason Young was never the fastest person that had ever played the game of football, but somehow he felt as if he had wings and no defender had any chance of catching him. He watched the keeper rush out, and then delicately chipped the ball over him for his hattrick and once more the match was level.

Jason's fine performance was to earn him the man of the match award, but his Avenue debut was still to end in despair as a late goal gave Rushen a win in an incredible game. Even so, Jason had scored a hattrick and surely the manager could not have failed to notice. Yet it would be four more games on the bench for Jason Young, as Dave Green showed that he may be loyal, but he was also a very hard man to please.

enjikari

I remember reading the original, albeit it in bits and pieces, and a fine read it was. I hope this lives up to the legend of Jason Young

As a side note, is there a link to the old one anywhere?