Richard Yates (6 June 1921 – 1976) was a Welsh footballer who spent six years immediately after World War II playing centre-forward in the Football League for Chester, Wrexham, Carlisle United, and New Brighton.

Dick Yates
Personal information
Full name Richard Yates[1]
Date of birth (1921-06-06)6 June 1921[1]
Place of birth Queensferry, Flintshire, Wales[1]
Date of death 1976 (aged 54–55)
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre-forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1946–1947 Chester 52 (37)
1947–1948 Wrexham 31 (18)
1948–1949 Carlisle United 16 (9)
1949–1951 New Brighton 43 (14)
South Liverpool
Total 142+ (76+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Yates played as a guest for Wrexham, Reading, Charlton Athletic and Port Vale during World War II.[1] After the war he signed with Frank Brown's Chester, and with 36 goals in the 1946–47 season he set a club record that was never equalled. Despite his efforts, the "Seals" could only finish third in the Third Division North, and were not promoted. He left Sealand Road in the 1947–48 season and scored 18 goals in 31 league games for Wrexham, who also finished third in the Third Division North. He scored hat-tricks against Halifax Town in the league and against Penrhyn Quarry in the Welsh Cup.[3] He departed the Racecourse Ground, and switched to league rivals Carlisle United. He scored nine goals in 16 league games in the 1948–49 campaign for Ivor Broadis's "Cumbrians", in what was a brief stay at Brunton Park. He moved on to New Brighton for the 1949–50 season, before leaving the club after they failed to gain re-election in 1950–51. Despite boasting a goal ratio of one goal for every two games, he never found another club in the Football League, and instead ended his career with South Liverpool.

Career statistics edit

Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chester 1945–46 0 0 2 0 2 0
1946–47 Third Division North 40 36 3 1 43 37
1947–48 Third Division North 12 1 1 2 13 3
Total 52 37 6 3 56 40
Wrexham 1947–48 Third Division North 21 13 0 0 21 13
1948–49 Third Division North 10 5 0 0 10 5
Total 31 18 0 0 31 18
Carlisle United 1948–49 Third Division North 16 9 1 0 17 9
New Brighton 1949–50 Third Division North 38 13 1 0 39 13
1950–51 Third Division North 5 1 0 0 5 1
Total 43 14 1 0 44 14

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 319. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ "Dick Yates | Player Statistics | Wrexham (Wrexham AFC Archive)". www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Hat-trick Heroes | Wrexham (Wrexham AFC Archive)". www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  4. ^ Dick Yates at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)