Gordon Creates History
It’s highly likely that supporters at Broadwood on Saturday witnessed a little bit of club history.
It took just 76 seconds for youth academy player Gordon Young to come off the bench and score with his first ever touch of the ball in senior football; almost certainly the first time that feat has been achieved.
Gordon Sydney of the Clyde Archive team contacted the official website to pass on his research on the subject.
“Many players have scored on their Clyde debuts,” Gordon said. “Neil Hood, Danny Masterton and Tommy O’Neill can all claim that distinction and more recently, in August 2012, Bryan Gilfillan managed it against Montrose – albeit as a trialist.
“Of course some even mange it in the wrong goal – witness Gordon Hamilton back in the seventies!
“Then there’s Willie Watters. Willie made his Clyde debut against East Fife at Firhill on 16th August 1986 and scored after only 20 seconds, so he was an obvious contender for the unofficial title of ‘first player to score with their first touch of the ball’.
“The good news for Gordon Young is that Willie didn’t score with his first touch. At least one match report tells us that Willie ‘fastened on to the ball at the edge of the penalty area and raced forward to slot his low shot into the net’, so it’s fair to assume Willie had a few touches before scoring.
“Let’s hope it’s the start of something good for yet another youngster from the club’s youth system.”