Dean Yates
Encyclopedia
Dean Yates is a retired English
football defender. He is currently commentating alongside Colin Slater for BBC Radio Nottingham on their coverage of Notts County
matches. He is now living in Burton Joyce
close to the home ground of Notts County.
He enjoyed considerable success as a player, making his Notts County debut in their 1984-85
Second Division
campaign which ended in relegation. He was a regular first team player from 1985-86
onwards, helping them win promotion back to the Second Division in 1990 and to the First Division a year later (both through the playoffs). However, a serious knee injury in February 1992 ruled him out for the next two years and meant that County were without him when they needed him most - during the final quarter of the 1991-92 season
when they battled against relegation from the First Division. The relegation battle was lost, and he managed just one appearance in the 1993-94 season
as he made his comeback from injury.
He was fully fit for the 1994-95 season
, but his presence in the team wasn't enough to prevent a relegation battle which was ultimately lost.
By the time County went down from Division One (as the old Second Division became known following the creation of the FA Premier League
for the 1992-93 season
), Yates had transferred to their local rivals Derby County
- a £350,000 fee taking him to the Baseball Ground
on 26 January 1995. He had played 314 league games in 10 years for Notts County.
The Rams had been favourites for promotion every season since their relegation from the top flight in 1991, but the closest they had come to achieving Premier League status was playoff defeats in 1992 and 1994, and when Yates arrived the playoffs were looking beyond their reach. They could only manage a ninth place finish in 1994-95, but they achieved automatic promotion the following season
as Yates's contributed 38 league appearances and two goals. However, the arrival of Igor Stimac
restricted Yates to just 10 appearances in 1996-97
and nine the following season
as Derby established themselves as a consistent mid table Premier League side.
He departed to Watford, newly promoted to Division One as Division Two champions, on 16 July 1998 on a free transfer. However, injury problems restricted his first team opportunities at Vicarage Road
and he played just 10 games, scoring once, in the 1998-99
season. Watford won a second successive promotion via the playoffs and reached the Premier League, but Yates did not feature in the 1999-2000 campaign
as Watford were relegated. After the end of the season, he retired from playing. Yates scored once for Watford against Bristol City.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football defender. He is currently commentating alongside Colin Slater for BBC Radio Nottingham on their coverage of Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
matches. He is now living in Burton Joyce
Burton Joyce
Burton Joyce is a large village and civil parish in the Gedling district of Nottinghamshire, England. It has a population of 4,000 and acts mainly as a commuter village for Nottingham....
close to the home ground of Notts County.
He enjoyed considerable success as a player, making his Notts County debut in their 1984-85
1984-85 in English football
The 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...
Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
campaign which ended in relegation. He was a regular first team player from 1985-86
1985-86 in English football
The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
onwards, helping them win promotion back to the Second Division in 1990 and to the First Division a year later (both through the playoffs). However, a serious knee injury in February 1992 ruled him out for the next two years and meant that County were without him when they needed him most - during the final quarter of the 1991-92 season
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
when they battled against relegation from the First Division. The relegation battle was lost, and he managed just one appearance in the 1993-94 season
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
as he made his comeback from injury.
He was fully fit for the 1994-95 season
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
, but his presence in the team wasn't enough to prevent a relegation battle which was ultimately lost.
By the time County went down from Division One (as the old Second Division became known following the creation of the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
for the 1992-93 season
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
), Yates had transferred to their local rivals Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
- a £350,000 fee taking him to the Baseball Ground
Baseball Ground
The Baseball Ground was a stadium in Derby, England. It was first used for baseball as the home of Derby County Baseball Club from 1890 until 1898 and then for football as the home of Derby County from 1895 until 1997. It was commonly referred to as the "BBG".As the name suggests, the stadium was...
on 26 January 1995. He had played 314 league games in 10 years for Notts County.
The Rams had been favourites for promotion every season since their relegation from the top flight in 1991, but the closest they had come to achieving Premier League status was playoff defeats in 1992 and 1994, and when Yates arrived the playoffs were looking beyond their reach. They could only manage a ninth place finish in 1994-95, but they achieved automatic promotion the following season
1995-96 in English football
- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
as Yates's contributed 38 league appearances and two goals. However, the arrival of Igor Stimac
Igor Štimac
Igor Štimac is a retired Croatian football player. He is now a football agent and a manager...
restricted Yates to just 10 appearances in 1996-97
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
and nine the following season
1997-98 in English football
The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
as Derby established themselves as a consistent mid table Premier League side.
He departed to Watford, newly promoted to Division One as Division Two champions, on 16 July 1998 on a free transfer. However, injury problems restricted his first team opportunities at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
and he played just 10 games, scoring once, in the 1998-99
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
season. Watford won a second successive promotion via the playoffs and reached the Premier League, but Yates did not feature in the 1999-2000 campaign
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
as Watford were relegated. After the end of the season, he retired from playing. Yates scored once for Watford against Bristol City.