Ex-Cambuslang ace coaching the Young ones

Mar 10 2010 by Will Henshaw, Rutherglen Reformer

FORMER Cambuslang Rangers star Gordon Young is playing his part in the future of Scottish football as Motherwell’s youth development manager.

Gordon has been a revelation since joining the Steelmen, helping to unearth such talent as James McFadden and Rutherglen defender Steven Saunders.

He even enjoyed a stint as caretaker boss after the sacking of manager Jim Gannon and before the arrival of current manager Craig Brown.

Although he has enjoyed a decorated career in football he insists his happiest times were spent with the Somervell Park club.

Gordon had a 10 year spell with the Lang over two periods from 87 until 92 and then from 95 till 2000.

During his two spells he played over 400 games for the club.

Cambuslang were one of the best junior teams in the country at the time and he won three league titles, a league cup and an Evening Times Cup with the club.

He said: “I’ve got a great affiliation with the club. I had flirted with playing professionally but when I played for Cambuslang it was about enjoying playing football again.

“At the time Cambuslang were one of the best junior teams in the country. They had great support, great facilities and great people running the club.”

“John Bagdonas originally signed me and then Peter Millar resigned me from Shotts.”

Gordon’s playing career started at Motherwell where he served as a school boy.

He joined Larkhall Thistle before being sold to Lanark United.

He also had a brief spell with Stockport County in England.

Between his two spells at Cambuslang he joined Shotts. And after a controversial season, he would find himself with the Lang once again: “Shotts got put out their league for a misdemeanour and they had spent a fortune on that team. They bought just about the best player in every position.

“We were meant to play Thorniewood in a League Cup game in the New Year.

MANAGER

“The manager didn’t want to play the game so he put doctor’s lines in.

“One of the guys who had a doctor’s line booked up to go to Ireland over the weekend. However there was a guy from the SFA at the airport and he spotted him. He checked back with his office and saw he was one of the players with a line.”

The result was Shotts were put out of the league for a year. All the players were loaned out for the season, with Gordon going to Armadale Thistle. The Lang then acted swiftly to buy back the talented winger.

Gordon flirted with the prospect of going senior, however at the time Cambuslang’s facilities were unrivalled: “When I was with Cambuslang the standard was so good that East Stirling, Albion Rovers and the like would come in every year for you because you signed a one year contract. You wouldn’t get better facilities than Cambuslang.

“Our crowds were good and we were playing great football. There was no reason to go and play with the senior teams because you were happy enough with Cambuslang.

“I still keep in contact and find out how they’re doing.”

Gordon then went on to play at amateur level with Dalziel High School Former Pupils and won the Scottish Cup with West Kilbride.

He also secured three caps at amateur level at the age of 37.

During his last year at Cambuslang he was appointed player coach, this was the starting point to a long career in coaching and youth development for Gordon.

“When Peter Millar got the sack at Cambuslang I was made player-coach. Peter then went to Motherwell and while he was there he asked me to come along and do some guest sessions.

“I never had it as something I wanted as career, but by coming along I realised I liked it. From there it snowballed and I became a part time coach, which I did for seven years.

WORKED

“I worked my way through the SFA coaching programme and I was offered the full time post three years ago.

“I have been fortunate to work with a number of top class managers Craig Brown, Archie Knox, Mark McGhee and Scott Leitch, as well as Terry Butcher and Maurice Malpas.”

Since Jim Gannon left, Gordon was awarded the chance to fulfil one of his lifelong ambitions at Motherwell.

For he was appointed caretaker manager for the match against Hearts in January.

Despite the 1-0 defeat, Gordon loved every minute of it.

He said: “It was a great honour and a privilege to manage the team even if it was only for one match, it meant a lot to me.”

As Gordon states, 60 per cent of the first team squad at Fir Park is made up of home grown players.

This is a staggering statistic, and is a testament to the hard work Gordon has put in.

Other people in his postion would perhaps have three or four staff working under them, and he admits he could perhaps do with a few more personnel to help him out.

Speaking of his duties at the club, he said: “My responsibilty is to provide a games programme for eight to 10 years and fulfil a criteria laid down from the SFA for 11-17-year-olds. This leads onto a pathway to the under-19 professional football which I coach on a full-time basis.

DUTIES

“Your day-to-day duties include coaching the under-19s full-time, liaising with the first team manager. I oversee the age groups from the under-11s to under-17s who train three nights a week and play a match at the weekend.”

He is also constantly on the look out for fresh talent to add to the Fir Park ranks, for it was Gordon who first spotted the potential in a young Steven Saunders who played for Queen’s Park at the time.

Gordon is not sure what the future will hold for him.

He admits the fact it was his hometown team that offered him the coaching position played a big part in his decision.

However he says he could one day look at alternative options if the right move were to come along: “The fact I was always a big fan of Motherwell the club has always had an attraction to me. I find the job more fulfilling because it is Motherwell.

“Like anyone else though, I’ve got ambitions.

“I couldn’t see me doing this job with Kilmarnock, St Mirren or Hamilton Accies. I could see myself doing it with a bigger club or a club abroad.”