Harry Yates (footballer, born 1861)

Harry Richard Yates (14 October 1861 – 1932) was an English footballer who played in The Football League for Aston Villa and Walsall.[1][2][3]

Harry Yates
Personal information
Full name Harry Richard Yates
Date of birth 14 October 1861
Place of birth Walsall, England
Date of death 1932 (aged 70–71)
Position(s) Wing-half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1883–1885 Walsall Swifts
1885–1890 Aston Villa 14 (0)
1890 Birmingham St. George's
1890–1898 Walsall 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Signed, age 22 for Walsall Swifts in 1883 and stayed for two seasons when he signed for Aston Villa F.C..

Career edit

He was a member of the FA Cup winning team when Aston Villa beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 in 1887

Season 1888-89 edit

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.[4][5]

Season 1889-1890 edit

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.[6]

1890 onwards edit

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.[7][8]

Playing Style edit

Matthews described Yates as a 14 stone solid defender with immense power. A strong, forceful tackler. [9]


Statistics edit

Source:[10]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aston Villa 1888–89 The Football League 13 0 2 0 15 0
Aston Villa 1889–90 Football League 1 0 - - 1 0
Walsall 1898–99 Second Division 4 0 - - 4 0


References edit

  1. ^ Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. SoccerData. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  2. ^ Matthews, Tony (2004). Who's Who of Aston Villa. Mainstream Publishing. p. 306. ISBN 1-84018-821-9.
  3. ^ "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 3 March 2023. (registration & fee required)
  4. ^ "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 24 December 2017. (registration & fee required)
  5. ^ Metcalf, Mark (2013). The Origins of the Football League. Amberley. ISBN 978-1-4456-1881-4.
  6. ^ "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 3 March 2023. (registration & fee required)
  7. ^ "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 3 March 2023. (registration & fee required)
  8. ^ Matthews, Tony (2004). Who's Who of Aston Villa. Mainstream Publishing. p. 306. ISBN 1-84018-821-9.
  9. ^ Matthews, Tony (2004). Who's Who of Aston Villa. Mainstream Publishing. p. 306. ISBN 1-84018-821-9.
  10. ^ Harry Yates at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)