As a player who played as a defender, who notably played in the Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, as well as in the English Football League for Bristol Rovers, Tranmere Rovers, Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town and Morecambe.

Yates played 134 league games for Queens Park Rangers and scored 2 goals before transferring to Tranmere Rovers in 1999.

[4] That same season he also scored one of the goals as Tranmere knocked Leeds United out of the League Cup.

[6] During a fixture with Carlisle United Yates had a bust-up in the tunnel at the Galpharm Stadium with opposing player Richie Foran which resulted in red cards for both players and Yates losing a front tooth.

Yates returned to Bristol Rovers in July 2013 as kit man and a year later combined that role with coaching.