Glasgow born Alex first came to the attention of Aberdeen manager Dave Halliday while he was playing for Blantyre Vics after he had played his part in the club winning the Scottish Junior Cup in 1950. Alex was previously working as a boilermaker in the Govan shipyards and he was also made captain of the Scottish Junior side before joining Aberdeen later that year. Young had been touted by several senior clubs including Celtic and many thought that he was too small to make it as a centre half in the senior grade. Halliday took the advice of Bobby Calder and Young was soon on his way to Pittodrie. <p> After only one game for the reserves Alex was thrust straight in to the first team for a dream debut against Rangers at Ibrox on 16th August 1950. Up against Rangers legend Willie Thornton, Alex played a blinder in the Dons 2-1 win and he never looked back after that sensational start. Alex went on to establish himself in the Aberdeen first team and he was soon to be joined by Jackie Allister and Archie Glen and the famous Aberdeen half back line of Allister, Young and Glen emerged. At only 5' 8" tall, Alex was certainly not your typical centre half of the time, but what he may have lacked in height he made up for with a tenacious attitude and an uncanny ability to out jump the taller opponents. Alex was certainly a late developer and having been brought up on the cinder parks of Glasgow; his legendary sliding tackle was added to his armoury at a later stage. <p> Alex kept out the promising Kenny Thomson and was in the side that went down in the Scottish Cup Finals in 1953 and 1954. However that club profile was raised even through disappointment and Aberdeen were now regarded as serious challengers for all honours. That promise was realized in 1955 when Alex was part of the side that won the League title. Alex played in every one of the Dons league matches that year as the club won their first ever championship. <p> Three years later Alex left Aberdeen after eight happy years at Pittodrie and he joined Ross County as player/manager at the age of 33. Young and his family settled in Fortrose where he invested in a local grocery business. He spent six seasons at Ross County before retiring from the game. Alex made a poignant return to Pittodrie in April 2003 along with seven of his former teammates as guests of the club for the day as a championship reunion was organised.