Pools pulled off a marquee signing in late August as Brad Young returned home. The on-loan goalkeeper explains his excitement at being back in the North East, and also reveals an exclusive story with a Leicester teammate and former Pools loanee.

Young’s journey into football started at a young age, just 17 miles away from the Prestige Group Stadium.

“I got into football when I was about five or six,” he stated.

“I remember my dad taking me to football camps at Soccarena in Durham and it just went from there. I ended up joining a local team there and being a Sunderland fan, I grew up watching Craig Gordon and Jordan Pickford. My main idol though was Joe Hart.

“I’ve always been a goalkeeper and I’ve enjoyed it. It’s a big position, there’s a lot of pressure and responsibility but I take that into my stride.

“Becoming a footballer was always the dream but I never thought it’d one day turn into reality. It was always just about playing and enjoying time on the pitch with my mates, then when you start getting recognition and moving up levels that’s when reality sets in.”

After impressing in Durham, Young came to Hartlepool as a teenager, signing for the Club’s Academy.

“I was buzzing to come here,” he said.

“I was around the Sunderland and Newcastle development teams when I was younger and played a few trial games but never got offered a contract. When I was 13, I came in at Hartlepool and it went from there.

“I pushed myself every day to be the best I could be. It was about improving every single game and training session, so I could look back at the end of every season with my head held high.

“There are thousands of children at grassroots level aspiring to sign for clubs – I achieved that so I wanted to prove why I deserved it. I was delighted to get offered a scholarship when I turned 16, then I continued from there.

“I mainly had Antony Sweeney at U16s, then Ian McGuckin and John Hewitson at U18s. Sweens chipped in to help when he moved into the first team, then I ended up following him on.”

He graduated from the Academy in 2019, signing his first professional contract at the Vic under Craig Hignett.

“Signing my first contract was an unbelievable feeling,” explained Young.

“That was a huge moment in my career but it was important to not have that resting mentality. I wanted it to be the first of many professional contracts. It was then about pushing on and letting that stage be the start of a successful journey.

“The message was well done but now the real work starts.

“Ross Turnbull played a massive part in my development. He was a key part of the coaching team that got the Club promoted, but he also played a huge role in my own progression.

“Being around the squad during the promotion season was special, I’ll remember that day in Bristol for the rest of my life. It was such a tight-knit group on and off the pitch, and when Brad James saved that penalty it was such an amazing feeling.

“I took in a lot of experiences at Hartlepool which have moulded me into the person I am today. I had loan spells at Newton Aycliffe, Billingham Town and Blyth Spartans.

“They were hard, I entered some tough environments at a young age where the pressure was on. Most of the lads had jobs and families, so playing football twice a week meant a lot to them.

“Then getting capped at youth level for England was a special milestone. I’ve played with a lot of lads who’ve went on to play at the top – the likes of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Harvey Elliott.

“There are a lot of different routes in football. I’d like to think I’ve worked hard for everything in my career, progressing from grassroots to where I am today, and I’m desperate to continue that.”

After two years around the Pools first team, Young was snapped up by Leicester City, who currently compete in the top flight.

“Moving to a club like Leicester meant a lot,” the 22-year-old said.

“It came about around the February time during Hartlepool’s promotion season. I went down and trained for a week – Brendan Rodgers and Mike Stowell pulled me into the office on the last day and said they were interested.

“I came back to Pools when they were sorting the deal and enjoyed the final few months of the season here. Then at the end of the season, after the play-off final, that’s when I made the move.

“I’ve experienced a lot of special moments. I travelled to Roma in the UEFA Conference League semi-final, that’s something I’m massively proud of.

“Being around Premier League players and seeing how they prepare, it’s excellent for my development and stands me in good stead.”

One goalkeeper in the Leicester dressing room Young is particularly close with is Jakub Stolarczyk. The Polish shot-stopper would go onto spend the second half of the 2022/23 season at Pools, much to the delight of Young.

“We’re quite close,” Young explained.

“During my second season at Leicester, I joined Notts County on loan and Jakub went to Fleetwood. We both struggled for game time, in my case Notts were winning every week and then I got injured.

“We both went back to Leicester in January, unfortunately I was injured. I remember getting treatment in the physio room and Jakub came through and told me Pools were interested in him.

“I told him about everything – from the Club, the history, the area, the people. I filled him with a lot of confidence, I’d like to think I deserve some credit for that move!

“By all accounts, he improved a lot during his time here. He’s a very good goalkeeper and person to be around. He’s managed to kick on and go onto play in the Championship for Leicester.

“When he heard I was going back to Hartlepool, he was delighted for me. He wished me luck and we speak every week, he still follows the results now. We’ve got a good relationship and it’s nice that Hartlepool has played a big role in both of our careers.”

Now, Young is back in his number 31 shirt and back at the Prestige Group Stadium on loan from Leicester.

With seven appearances to his name and a clean sheet against Aldershot, now is the time for the goalkeeper to kick on.

“Being back here is brilliant,” he stated,

“I’m a local lad and home’s home, you can’t beat it. It’s great being back around my family. It was a no-brainer for me and something I was desperate to do.

“I’m enjoying the run in the team at the minute – I feel as though I’m improving every day and hopefully we can push up that league table. The goalkeeping department is great and I’ve learnt a lot from being around Joel Dixon and Adam Smith.”

This interview first featured in our matchday programme against Aldershot Town on October 26.