You could still smoke in the pub.
The internet was dial-up.
And Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were the "it" couple.
The 40-year-old has outlasted all of those things.
He made his first appearance for his beloved team in 2001 and on Saturday he will play his 300th game.
Heriot will host Clutha Valley at Heriot, so the front-rower will get to bring up the milestone on home turf.
"There might be a couple coming along by the sound of it," Young said.
"It has just sort of ticked over really," he responded when asked about his longevity.
In case you have not done the maths, he has clocked up 22 years.
"Yep. Twenty-two years. To be fair it does not feel that long.
"You think maybe this year will be the last one and you keep coming back," he said.
"I really enjoy playing with the team we’ve got and it is a great club to play for.
"What else do you do on a Saturday? You’d end up working all the time."
Young owns an earth moving contracting business and has started a gym in Tapanui with wife Jess.
The couple have three children - Jayden 18, Chloe 13 and Bella 9.
Life is busy but not too busy to squeeze in a game on Saturday.
He loves the social side of the sport as much as anything else.
"The Southern competition is quite a good comp and there is a good crop of clubs there.
"You see the same guys year in and year out and catch up with them for a beer and a bit of a yarn. That keeps you going."
But for how long?
"Not too many more to be fair. But age is just a number I suppose.
"If I start getting injured and things like that, that would just be annoying and I’d pull the pin then probably"
Every Saturday is a highlight, but some have been better than others.
The club celebrated its 125th jubilee in 2010 and they beat Lawrence in the last minute.
That game sticks out.
But his favourite moment came in 2013 when Heriot won the Southern Region competition.
Young has also played 45 games for Otago Country and 10 games for the Southern Region premier team.
