FORMER New Zealand U-21 midfielder Darren Young has admitted it has been a disappointing end to the season for Athlone Town in the Eircom First Division.
The Kiwi signed for Athlone at the start of last season and there were high hopes that the Midlanders would clinch promotion to the Eircom Premier Division this year. However, a term that started with dreams of promotion has ended in failure and the club have finished in the bottom half of the table.
Young – who was born in England but moved to New Zealand with his parents aged 11, before taking out New Zealand citizenship in 1997 – has played in New Zealand, Australia, England and Ireland. The 26-year-old has also won over 30 national caps at schoolboy and U-21.
A spell with New Zealand side Football Kings, who play in the National Soccer League in Australia, brought him to the attention of English league side Barnsley, who he signed for in the late 1990s.
However, a knee injury didn’t help his career with the Tykes and his agent advised him to move to Ireland, where he signed for Limerick FC – since renamed Limerick 37 – in 2005. He has also played for Waterford United, and he moved to Athlone at the start of last season.
“It has been a disappointing season for us and there is no point trying to gloss over it as finishing in the bottom half of the table is simply not good enough,” says Young, looking back over the year.
“There has been a substantial investment in the club this year but things didn’t work out the way they were planned, and the bottom line is that we will be playing in the Eircom First Division again next season.
“We, the players, have to accept the lion’s share of responsibility for that, and the important thing now is to put this season behind and look forward to next season positively.”
Young’s contract with Athlone Town is due for renewal before the end of this month, and the ex-Kiwi underage international would like to remain with the First Division club.
“There was a great buzz about the place at the start of last season but the way this season has ended has dampened all our expectations. But if we can recapture the same buzz next year and produce the goods on the field then I would like to be part of that.”
Young’s spell with Barnsley in England ended in frustration because of his injury, but he made good friends with Brian O’Callaghan and Graham Gartland at the then English Championship side. O’Callaghan is now playing with Cork City while Gartland is with Drogheda United, and Young – who lives in Castletroy, Limerick – wants to be up there playing against his old team-mates.
He added: “I want to be playing in the Premier Division, yes, and I am confident that I have the talent to play and perform well there, especially after playing in the Australian A-league. The Football Kings were a quality side and the standard in the Australian National League was very high; there were no easy games.
“I was disappointed when my move to Barnsley didn’t work out, and the knee injury definitely didn’t help. At the time a few of my friends were moving to Ireland to play soccer and when my agent suggested that I do the same I signed up with Limerick FC.”
However, Limerick FC lasted just two years before being booted out of the Eircom League because they didn’t meet the criteria laid down in the Uefa licensing agreement which all Eircom League clubs are signed up to.
Athlone Town have met their Uefa obligations, but not their on-field expectations in 2007. “We will have to put this year behind us,” said Young, “and start building toward next season, which will be a crucial year for the club.”
