Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with Stuart Young

Overseas Clubs:                                 

Hull City, Scarborough, Scunthorpe (England), Woodlands (Singapore)

NSL Club:                                           

Wollongong Wolves

Diegos Verdict:                                   

One of the most impressive imports to ever grace the NSL.

A clever and wily customer on the field, Young proved himself to be an ideal foil to the hard running Wolves legend, Matt Horsley in Wollongong’s back-to-back premiership years.

When Horsley’s departed for Perth in 2001, Young took over the mantle of skipper at the club.

He was a top line media performer even though the Diegos couldn’t understand a word that he said. No doubt he has gone on to make it big on Aussie TV (probably with subtitles).

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Stuart Young

Young on the Wolves winning the big one in 2001…

Diegos: “Congratulations on your well-deserved Grand final win.

That makes it back-to-back Grand final wins and a place in NSL history. The team did it in style - hard running, high scoring and team spirit to burn.

At what point of the campaign did you believe that the club was destined to win it again?

Young: "I think once we fulfilled our commitments in Papua New Guinea for what we thought was going to be the World Club Championships. Our form after that really picked up and I think the boys became really keyed in to going back to back."

Soft Sombrero Moment June 2001

Young on the Wolves championship qualities…

Diegos: "Much is made of the Wolves' fighting spirit and amazing close knit team bond. The Diegos know all about male bonding. We've developed our team spirit by scrubbing each other's backs in the shower after every show.

How about the Wolves? Why is the bond so great down at the 'Gong'?

Young: "I think it stems from Matty Horsley.  He has been at the club for years and is a wonderful man. All of us look to him and he set it all rolling for us.

Over the last four years in particular we've built up a strong squad, many coming from State League, and Matty is the player who has brought it all together. It's a real blow that he is leaving us to go to Perth."

Soft Sombrero Moment June 2001

Young on the Wolves exodus…

Diegos: "As you know the Diegos are a tight butch and for each other we would die but when someone leaves our fold we turn pretty ugly, look the deserter in the eye and exile him or her forever.  The Wolves have got a few departures.

How is the club handling the exodus?

Young: "It's difficult. The best clubs in the world in all sports have personal changes. The guys that are leaving are ones that we did not want to see go but for whatever reason they have decide to search for greener pastures.

I guess taking a leaf out of the Diegos book of how to be bitter, we're just not going to talk to them anymore."

Soft Sombrero Moment June 2001

Young on the World Club Championships…

Diegos: "The postponement of the World Club Championships this year must have hurt. Sure as it turned out, the Matador and Tapas bar dirty dancing classes were a complete waste of time but more importantly, the football chance of a lifetime was coldheartedly taken away, possibly never to return.

What was the player's first reaction to the news and was it difficult to refocus after reality of FIFA's decision hit home?

Young: "It’s funny. It happened as we were boarding the team bus as we were coming down to Melbourne for the semi final. If you're going to be hit with devastating news like that I think we could've picked a better time.

With us being pretty much a part time club our time together as a group is limited. I think if we had not been together to receive the news it may have been more difficult than it actually was. As a group we spoke about how disappointed we all were but eventually it became a bit of a joke.

I think that helped the team spirit even more."

Soft Sombrero Moment June 2001

Diegos: "How about the Bank managers in Wollongong? Did they laugh it off as a bit of a joke as well?"

Young: "Well it didn't help our bank balances at all. A few lads have canceled cars and houses.

In that respect it was hard but then again we never actually had the money so it wasn't as if somebody had stolen it from us or anything like that. It has been a blow financially but most importantly we're all disappointed from a prestige point of view."

Soft Sombrero Moment June 2001

Young reflecting on his football career and what to make of David Cervinski…

Diegos: "You are a former Arsenal apprentice.

Do you ever wonder what might've been? Do you ever look at Wolves coach Ron Corry and see Arsene Wenger? Do you ever run on to WIN stadium and imagine its Highbury? David Cervinski and Tony Adams could be twins if it wasn't for Shovel's moccasins, don't you think?

Young: "Well I look at David Cervinski and I have no idea what to compare him with."

Diegos: "David Seaman with his pony tail perhaps?"

Young: "Well maybe but I don't know where the moccasins fit in. He certainly is a mystery to me. Its funny; life is funny.

When I was 16 years old, going down to the big smoke - London, to start my career with Arsenal, if anybody had said to me that 12 years down the track you're going to be in Wollongong playing soccer, I would've probably laughed.

It’s very strange the directions that your life takes sometimes. In some respects I'm very disappointed from a professional point of view that I didn't make the most of my opportunities when I was younger but on the same token, I'm very fortunate that I've traveled half the world, playing the game I love and being paid to do so.

I've ended up in the greatest place in the world, Australia. I absolutely love it here. I feel very lucky."

Soft Sombrero Moment June 2001

Young on the ‘Copacabana Twist’…

Diegos: "A sublime moment of skill against South Melbourne at Bob Jane stadium that lead to a classic major semi final opening goal for the Wolves a couple of weeks ago was certainly a moment to savor.

The Diegos named the move the 'Copacabana step over hip feint with a twist' and is a piece of skill that all the little kiddies should definitely practice.

It must have been an enjoyable moment for you? 

Young: "I'd like to say it was arrogance and a touch of Brazilian magic but I've got to admit it was more stupidity on my part than anything else. I've no idea what I did.

I'm just lucky that I didn't stuff a knee up or something. I guest the Tapas Bar dirty dancing did pay off after all."

Soft Sombrero Moment June 2001

Young on captaincy…

Diegos: "The Grand final was the last time you got to kiss Matt Horsley on the bald head and Scott Chipperfield on the left boot for they are now off to Perth Glory.

There's talk that you have been offered the captaincy.

Are you excited about the prospect of leading the team and do you allow yourself to dream of three in a row?

Young: "Following Matt Horsley I reckon its going probably going to be the worst job in the world. Three in a row would be great but let us get over two in a row first Diegos."

Soft Sombrero Moment June 2001