Doug Young scorer sitt tredje mål på Wembley.
Last Updated on: 21st juni 2024, 12:34 am
Today marks the 70th birthday of one of the truly legendary players in the history of Billericay Town. Doug Young is not only historic in the eyes of the club, but also wrote his name in gold in the history of English football.
Although Billericay Town in the 70s stayed a few divisions further down the pyramid than they do now (not very far down, but still), the 70s also contained one of the greatest achievements of the club.
As far as I know, Billericay Town is still the only club to have won the FA Vase three times. It happened in 1976, in 1977 and in 1979. The FA Vase is a cup that is organized among teams furtherdown in the English football pyramid, but the final is always played at Wembley.
The match in 1979 in particular is special. Firstly, Billericay Town won 4-1 over Almondsbury Greenway, and also had goalkeeper Paul Norris – who of all teams had actually played for Lyn in Oslo before!
But most famous, and most legendary, the match is known for Doug Young scoring a hat-trick in the match. And thus signed himself in as one of the club’s greatest legends of all time!
Historic in more ways than one he was too, as his hat-trick was the first hat-trick scored at Wembley in an official match since the 1966 World Cup final, when England won 4-2 over West Germany and Geoff Hurst scored at hat-trick. Hurst is still the only player to have scored three goals in a World Cup final. 1966 is also the only time England have won the World Cup…
Whether more hat-tricks have been scored at Wembley since Doug Young managed the feat in 1976, ten years after the World Cup final, I don’t know, but he became legendary anyway!
He is still to be seen at New Lodge, and I have had the great pleasure of meeting him several times. He is a typically pleasant English gentleman with a gentle and calm demeanor, and always has time for a small chat.
So congratulations on the big day today, Doug Young! And I hope to see you again later this year!
See the goals scored in FA Vase-final i 1976 here:
