05-05-2025
Ex footballer dead aged just 45 after battle with MS former as club confirm heartbreaking news
Tom Youngs, who played Cambridge, Northampton Town, Leyton Orient and Bury, has died at the age of 45 after a battle with multiple sclerosis
Former Cambridge United striker Tom Youngs has tragically passed away at the age of 45 following a battle with multiple sclerosis (MS), the club confirmed.
Youngs, who was diagnosed with MS in 2014, died on Sunday in a hospice in Bury St Edmunds.
The ex-Us star is survived by his wife, Chelle, and their two daughters. Youngs joined the club's academy at just 10 years old and spent six successful years in Cambridge's first team from 1997 to 2003, scoring 48 goals in 180 appearances.
Cambridge United released a statement on Monday announcing the heartbreaking news. "The news of the death on Sunday of former Cambridge United forward Tom Youngs, at the tragically early age of 45, came as a shock to all connected with the club," it read.
"Tom, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014, will be remembered as a gifted player who, with probing, darting runs, intelligent positioning and poise in front of goal, graced the Abbey Stadium between 1997 and 2003."
Youngs signed YTS terms in 1996 while still studying for his A levels at school. However, he showed such promise that he bypassed the rest of his YTS stint at the age of 17 and signed a two-year professional contract.
The club ended their tribute with: "He signed YTS terms in 1996 while staying on at school to study for A levels, but showed such promise that a year later, at the age of 17, he bypassed the rest of his YTS stint and signed a two-year professional contract. Rest in peace, Tom."
Northampton Town, where Youngs played for two years after joining for £50,000 in 2003, also paid tribute to him. On their website, the Cobblers wrote: "Tom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a life-changing event that he faced with the same resilience and honesty that marked his entire career."
Youngs went on to join Leyton Orient and Bury after leaving Sixfields, combining his football career with studying sports journalism at the University of Staffordshire. Following his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis in 2014, he wrote a moving book about his experiences with the disease, which provided comfort and inspiration to many.
Tributes have flooded in for the former player, with his ex-Bury teammate Jon Newby posting on X: "Very sad to read this. Played with Tom at Bury and he was a nice, very likeable fella. Even when he was at Bury, I remember him speaking very fondly about his time at Cambridge and how much he loved it there."
One Cambridge fan echoed those sentiments, writing: "Absolutely devastated, spoke to Tom at the Blackpool game earlier in the season reminiscing the good ol days, you will always be in our hearts."
