Harry Richard Yates (14 October 1861 – 1932) was an English footballer who played in The Football League for Aston Villa and Walsall. (registration & fee required)
Signed, age 22 for Walsall Swifts in 1883 and stayed for two seasons when he signed for Aston Villa F.C..
Career
He was a member of the FA Cup winning team when Aston Villa beat West Bromwich Albion 2–0 in 1887
Season 1888-89 Yates played in the 1888–89 inaugural English Football League season. He made his League debut on 8 September 1888 at Dudley Road, Wolverhampton, then home of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Yates played at Right-Half in a team that drew 1–1. Yates played 13 of the 22 League games. As a wing-half, he played in a midfield that achieved a big win on three occasions. Yates, weighing 14 stone, was known as "Tubby Yates" and played as a defensive wing-half. Yates assisted Aston Villa to finish second in the League. (registration & fee required)
Season 1889-1890 This season was the last season for Yates at Aston Villa and he made only one First-Team appearance. His last appearance was on 7 December 1890 when Stoke were the visitors. Villa won 6–1 and Yates played at Right-Half. (registration & fee required)
1890 onwards Yates left Villa in 1890 and moved to Birmingham St George's for a brief stay as by August he signed for Walsall. During the spell 1892–1898 Walsall had to spells in the Second Division. In 1898–1899 Yates played four times at Centre-Half for Walsall in the Second Division. He retired in May 1898 after a long-term hip injury. Nothing is recorded about what Yates did from 1898 to his death in 1932. (registration & fee required)
Playing Style Matthews described Yates as a 14 stone solid defender with immense power. A strong, forceful tackler.
Statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAston Villa1888–89The Football League13020150Aston Villa1889–90Football League10--10Walsall1898–99Second Division40--40
References