James Yates (2 November 1869 – 5 September 1922)[1] was an English professional footballer who played as a right winger in the 1900 FA Cup Final for Southampton.
Yates was born in Tunstall, Staffordshire,[1] but started his professional career in November 1892 with Second Division Ardwick, after spending the 1891–92 season on the books of Burnley.
Described by Holley & Chalk as "a dapper, clever forward (who)when at his best, was virtually unstoppable"[3] his first season at The Dell was often interrupted by ill-health and he was out of the team from March onwards, thus missing out on "Saints" first FA Cup Semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
At the end of the season, because of his poor health, he decided not to sign a new contract and moved to Kent where he played for Gravesend United, also then in the Southern League.
The following season, Saints were able to finish in only third place in the table, as they were concentrating their efforts on the FA Cup where they reached the final for the first time in their history, the highlight of which was a 4–1 drubbing of Newcastle United in which Yates was among the scorers.