Ron Yeats was born in Scotland in 1937 and began his football career with Scottish side Dundee United, he was signed by Liverpool manager Bill Shankly in 1961, immediately installed as club captain, his first season at Liverpool saw them win the Second division Title and promotion back to the First Division, Yeats was part of the Liverpool revolution that saw them dominate English and then European football.
A tall empowering central defender, Ron Yeats formed the backbone of the Liverpool team of the 1960s and his sheer size earned him the nick-name of ‘The Colossus’ amongst the Liverpool fans. Bill Shankly famously invited reporters to «come on up and walk around him» when he signed for the club, and if his size was meant to intimidate the opposition, they were probably right, as Liverpool enjoyed their greatest success for generations.
Yeats captained Liverpool to the First Division title in 1964 and he became the first Liverpool captain ever to lift the FA Cup in 1965. As Liverpool beat Leeds United 2-1. However the season was tinged with disappointment as they lost to Inter Milan in the semi-final of the European cup.
Liverpool won the First Division League title again in 1966, but as the 1960s drew to a close, Liverpool didn’t see any more trophies and Bill Shankly began to re-build his side. Yeats was no longer a first choice and his appearances in the first team became less frequent. In 1971 Ron Yeats signed for Tranmere Rovers after 454 appearances and scoring 16 goals for Liverpool.
After a short spell playing football in America towards the end of his playing career, Ron Yeats made a return to Liverpool in 1986 and was employed as a scout for the club, he continued in this post until his retirement in 2006.
Ron Yeats was part of the Liverpool revolution that saw them rise from Second division mediocrity to enjoy the greatest of success, and he will always be remembered as a Liverpool Football Club legend.