Former Manchester City forward and forever legend Neil Young has died, aged 66 the club can confirm. As you all know Neil had been battling a long time with cancer and was honored at both Leicester City FA Cup games where he scored the winning, and only goal some 40+ years ago to lift the trophy for City, and City did it again for him no doubt.
Widely regarded as one of the greats and played a major role in the squad that is now remembered as Bell, Lee and Summerbee and enjoyed success for City in those glorious late sixties and early seventies. Neil joined us in 1959 as an apprentice but his talent soon had him in the first team by the age of 17.
Under the guidance of Allison and Mercer he helped City to the league title in 1968, then that goal to win the FA Cup in 1969. Twelve months later he scored one of the two goals in Citys 2-1 win in the Cup Winners Cup victory against Gornik Zabrze.
It was odd for such a gifted player to never win the international recognition he deserved and it’s still astonishing that Young never won a single England cap. With first-team opportunities becoming limited, left Maine Road in 1972 after scoring 107 goals for the club in 412 appearances and signed for Preston North End, prior to a brief spell at Rochdale before retiring.
Young was inducted into the Manchester City Hall of Fame in 2008 in acknowledgement of his services to the club, an honour that made him immensely proud.
Quiet and shy away from the game, he rarely visited the club in his later years, though still followed the Blues’ progress keenly. On the MCFC Official site shortly after his death they stated "He will be sadly missed by his wife Carmen, family, friends and everyone connected with the Manchester City".
"Neil's daughters Melissa, Nadene and son Mark have all expressed their gratitude at the love and respect the City fans and club has shown. They have personally asked the club to thank everyone for their kindness and messages of support".
Neil will always be a City legend and certainly be ‘Forever Young‘.
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