Chick Young is a well-known Scottish football journalist and broadcaster whose distinctive voice, personality, and long association with Scottish football have made him a recognizable figure in sports media. Born Charles Young on 4 May 1951 in Govan, Glasgow, he built a career around football journalism and broadcasting, becoming particularly associated with BBC Scotland programmes such as Sportsound and Sportscene. Over the years, his opinions, match reporting, interviews, and unmistakable laugh have helped establish him as one of the familiar personalities of Scottish football coverage.
Quick Bio
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Charles Young |
| Known As | Chick Young |
| Date of Birth | 4 May 1951 |
| Birthplace | Govan, Glasgow, Scotland |
| Profession | Journalist, Football Broadcaster and Pundit |
| Main Broadcasting Association | BBC Scotland |
| Known For | Sportsound, Sportscene and football journalism |
| Column | “Chick Young’s View” |
| Television Appearance | Scot Squad |
| Former Wife | Sally Carr |
| Son | Keith Young |
Early Life and Background
Chick Young was born in Govan, Glasgow, an area with a strong football culture and deep connections to the city’s working-class history. His early experiences in Glasgow helped shape his connection with the sport that would later become the centre of his professional life.
Young attended Bellahouston Academy. His childhood was also marked by personal loss, as his father died from a heart attack when Young was six years old. These early experiences became part of the personal story he later discussed when reflecting on his life and career.
Football eventually became much more than a pastime for Young. Through journalism and broadcasting, he developed a career that allowed him to combine his knowledge of Scottish football with his ability to communicate with audiences.
Career as a Football Journalist
Chick Young established himself as a football journalist before becoming particularly familiar to radio and television audiences. His work covered Scottish football, including the country’s leading clubs, managers, players, and major matches.
His career developed alongside the changing Scottish sports-media landscape. Rather than being known only for match commentary, Young became recognized for his opinions and his ability to discuss the wider stories surrounding football.
One of the notable features of his career has been his willingness to talk about personalities within Scottish football. His interviews and discussions have included relationships with managers connected with both Celtic and Rangers, subjects that have naturally attracted attention in Scotland’s highly competitive football environment. BBC Radio Scotland’s This Sporting Life devoted two episodes to Young in 2024, covering his early life, career stories, and relationships with football managers.
Chick Young and BBC Scotland
A major part of Young’s professional identity is his association with BBC Scotland. He has appeared regularly on programmes including Sportscene and Sportsound, giving him a substantial presence across Scottish football coverage.
Young began hosting episodes of Sportsound in October 2009, initially working on several episodes each month. He also contributed written commentary through the BBC’s “Chick Young’s View” column, where he discussed Scottish football matches, players, and broader issues affecting the game.
His work demonstrates how sports journalism can extend beyond simply describing what happens during a match. Young’s broadcasting has involved analysis, interviews, opinion, storytelling, and discussion of the people who make Scottish football such an important part of the country’s sporting culture.
His Distinctive Broadcasting Style
One of the characteristics most associated with Chick Young is his distinctive laugh and speech patterns. These traits became recognizable enough to be parodied in Scottish comedy.
The BBC Scotland sports comedy programme Only an Excuse? used Young as a subject for humorous imitation. His recognizable broadcasting personality therefore became part of Scottish football culture beyond his regular journalism.
Being parodied can also demonstrate how familiar a broadcaster has become to an audience. In Young’s case, his voice and mannerisms were sufficiently recognizable that viewers could identify the character being portrayed.
Academic research into Scottish football broadcasting has also discussed parodies of Young in relation to the wider culture surrounding football media and Scottish football identities.
Appearances Beyond Football Broadcasting
Although most closely associated with football journalism, Young has also appeared in entertainment programming. In 2019, he made a guest appearance as himself in the Scottish police comedy series Scot Squad.
His ability to move between sports broadcasting and entertainment reflects the broader recognition he developed during his career. His personality became sufficiently familiar to Scottish audiences that he could be presented not simply as a journalist but also as a recognizable media personality.
Chick Young and Family Life
Young’s personal life has also received attention. In 1978, he married Sally Carr, the Scottish singer best known as the lead vocalist of the pop group Middle of the Road. The couple had a son, Keith, who was born in 1980. Young and Carr separated in 1984 but remained friends and did not divorce.
The family later experienced a devastating tragedy. Keith Young died in a motorcycle accident in 2001 at the age of 20. The event became an important part of Young’s personal story, and he discussed the loss during his 2024 appearance on BBC Radio Scotland’s This Sporting Life.
The two-part programme provided an unusually personal look at Young, discussing both his professional career and difficult experiences away from football. The second episode specifically addressed the death of his son alongside his broadcasting career and the comedy programme Only an Excuse?.
Chick Young’s Writing and Football Opinions
Young has also been known for his written football commentary. His “Chick Young’s View” column gave him a platform to discuss issues beyond individual match results.
One archived BBC column, for example, focused on the changing availability and cost of football pitches for amateur teams. Young combined personal memories of playing football in Glasgow with commentary about the challenges facing grassroots football.
This aspect of his work illustrates why his career has extended beyond traditional match reporting. He has frequently connected football with the communities, facilities, personalities, and memories that surround the sport.
A Long Connection With Scottish Football
Chick Young’s career spans several decades of significant change in Scottish football media. The way supporters consume football has evolved from traditional newspapers and radio broadcasts to television, websites, social media, podcasts, and digital platforms. Throughout these changes, Young has remained associated with Scottish football broadcasting.
His continued presence in football coverage is reflected by contemporary commentator databases, which list BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Sportscene assignments involving Young during 2026.
That longevity is an important part of understanding his career. Young has not simply appeared during one particular period of Scottish football; he has remained connected to the sport’s media landscape across generations of supporters.
Chick Young’s Legacy in Scottish Sports Media
The story of Chick Young is ultimately the story of a broadcaster whose professional life became closely intertwined with Scottish football. From his beginnings in Glasgow to his work with BBC Scotland, he developed a recognizable identity through journalism, radio, television, and written commentary.
His distinctive laugh and broadcasting manner have become part of his public image, while his reporting and discussions have allowed him to cover many of the important stories surrounding Scottish football. His 2024 This Sporting Life interviews also demonstrated another side of his story, bringing together his professional achievements and deeply personal experiences.
For readers interested in Scottish football journalism and the personalities who have shaped its media coverage, Chick Young remains an important name. His long-running connection with BBC Scotland, his memorable broadcasting style, and his experiences both inside and outside football have created a career with a distinctive place in Scottish sports media. Readers can find more biographies and personality-focused stories on Mating Press, where subjects from different areas of public life are explored in accessible detail.
FAQs About Chick Young
Who is Chick Young?
Chick Young is the professional name of Charles Young, a Scottish football journalist, broadcaster, and pundit associated with BBC Scotland.
When was Chick Young born?
Chick Young was born on 4 May 1951 in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland.
What is Chick Young known for?
He is best known for his work as a Scottish football journalist and broadcaster, particularly through BBC Scotland programmes such as Sportsound and Sportscene.
When did Chick Young begin hosting Sportsound?
Young began hosting episodes of Sportsound in October 2009.
Was Chick Young married to Sally Carr?
Yes. Chick Young married Scottish singer Sally Carr in 1978. They had a son, Keith, and separated in 1984 while remaining friends.
Did Chick Young appear on television outside sports programmes?
Yes. He appeared as himself in the Scottish comedy series Scot Squad in 2019.
What happened to Chick Young’s son?
His son Keith died in a motorcycle accident in 2001 at the age of 20. Young discussed the tragedy during his 2024 This Sporting Life interviews.
Why is Chick Young recognizable to Scottish football audiences?
His long association with BBC Scotland, distinctive laugh and speech patterns, football opinions, and extensive experience covering Scottish football have made him a recognizable broadcasting personality.
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