‘My whole world has been turned upside down’
Scott’s world ‘turned upside down’ after tragic loss of mother of two
FORMER Glentoran star Scott Young has said his world has been “turned upside down” after the tragic death of his wife.
Eleanor Young — “the perfect partner, the perfect mother” — passed away suddenly on Friday.
Heartbroken Scott, a former Glens player and manager, said she had always been “the only one” for him.
“It was a massive blood clot that started in her ankle which she fractured a couple of weeks ago,” the Glaswegian said.
“In a matter of seconds it went straight to her lungs and that was that. There was nothing anyone could have done, even if she’d been there in the hospital to get treatment right away there wouldn’t have been much chance.
“It just happened so quickly.”
FORMER Glentoran star Scott Young has described how his world has been “turned upside down” after the tragic death of his wife.
Eleanor Young passed away suddenly on Friday.
Scott, a former Glens player and manager, who became a fans’ favourite during his time with the East Belfast club, told how she had always been “the only one” for him.
He said his family has been left heartbroken after she died suddenly after developing a blood clot.
“I got the coroner’s report through this morning,” Scott, born in Glasgow but an honorary east Belfast man, told the Belfast Telegraph. “It was a massive blood clot that started in her ankle which she fractured a couple of weeks ago.
“In a matter of seconds it went straight to her lungs and that was that. There was nothing anyone could have done, even if she’d been there in the hospital to get treatment right away there wouldn’t have been much chance. It just happened so quickly.”
In an emotional interview, he recalled how they had been together for over two decades.
“I knew from the moment I met Eleanor in 1999 she was the one for me. Now my world is upside down,” he added.
“As soon as I met her, that was it. She was the one. She’s been the one every day since.
“She gave our family a home filled with love, our two girls will always know how much they’re loved.”
The couple made their home in east Belfast, where Scott excelled on the football pitch for Glentoran before three broken legs in two years ended his playing days in 2006.
After that Eleanor supported him as he embarked on a new career in football management with the club from his adopted city, with football never far from her own working life thanks to a role in the office of Westbourne Glentoran Supporters’ Club.
The couple’s first daughter Georgia was born in 2001 and Jessica in 2004.
“Eleanor was the perfect partner, the perfect mother,” said Scott. “She made an impact on the lives of anyone she met. She always carried an empathy with her, that’s why she was so special not just to me and the girls, but to so many more she knew and who knew her.
“She was our world. She gave me two wonderful daughters, a loving family and at the same time allowed me to concentrate on my career.
“I don’t want it to sound overly dramatic, but she was one in a million to us and our lives will never be the same. Right now I’m getting by in a blur, but I have to stay strong for the girls.”
After leaving Glentoran, Scott has continued his association with football in Northern Ireland and has been a regular on the BBC Radio Ulster airwaves on Saturday Sportsound.
He praised the support of the football community over the last few days.
He added: “The funeral won’t be until next Monday because of all the Covid restrictions, but in the meantime all the lovely comments we’ve been receiving from friends, family and people in the football world I played against have been overwhelming.
“I’m not on social media, but my daughters are. They’ve been showing me so many kind words. Eleanor touched everybody, that was just her nature.
“David Jeffrey, David Healy, players I was up against during my career, messages from people like that mean so much. “Glentoran FC too have been absolutely wonderful. I’m an east Belfast boy now and the love and affection shown to me and my family these past few days has kept me going.
“I know Eleanor was so proud of our girls. They’re a credit to their mother, how Georgia is getting on at university in Glasgow, excelling in Law, Spanish and French, how Jessica is preparing for her GCSES. She taught them discipline and manners. We were a family together, but so much of that came from Eleanor.
“There are so many people I have to thank.
“The Northern Ireland football family have shown me that all rivalry can be set to one side. Former players I maybe kicked a lump or two out of on the football pitch have been in touch and their love and thoughts are so welcome.
“I’d be lost without the support of others, like Eleanor’s sister Elaine, who has been so much part of our close family. I’ll be forever grateful for every message.”