Former Liverpool FC captain Ron Yeats dies aged 86
ITV Granada Reports sports correspondent Chris Hall takes a look back at Ron Yeats' achievements
Former Liverpool FC captain Ron Yeats - who was the first to lift the FA Cup for the team - has died aged 86.
The Reds legend died on Friday 6 September having sadly suffered with Alzheimer’s in recent years, the club said.
Yeats signed from Dundee United in July 1961 and was, Liverpool said, "one of the transformative players of [Bill] Shankly’s fledgling revolution".
During his unveiling at Anfield, manager Shankly famously invited journalists to “take a walk around him, he’s a colossus”.
Just months after his arrival on Merseyside the Aberdeen-born centre-back was appointed captain – a role he would go on to fulfil for eight further full seasons.
During his debut campaign in 1961-62, Yeats made 41 league appearances, helping them to secure promotion.
His first goal came on 23 November 1963 in the 75th minute of the 1–0 First Division victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
After helping Liverpool out of the Second Division, Yeats won two Division One league titles and, significantly, lifted the Reds’ first FA Cup in 1965 – forgetting all etiquette to tell the the Queen at the trophy presentation he was “knackered” after an energy-sapping final win over Leeds.
Yeats speaks about his infamous faux pas when speaking to the Queen after Liverpool's FA Cup win
He also saw the introduction of the club’s now-famous all-red kit, with Yeats chosen as the model.
He later suggested the socks should be the same colour to complete the look.
When he left Liverpool as a player in late 1971, his games tally stood at 454, which remains as the 22nd-highest figure in history.
More than 400 of his appearances were as captain, with only Steven Gerrard wearing the armband for the Reds on more occasions.
After leaving Liverpool he became Tranmere’s player-manager for three years, followed by brief spell in America in his late 30s.
In 1986, Yeats was brought back to the club in the position of chief scout, serving for 20 years before retiring in 2006, with another Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia, catching his eye.
Speaking of his greatest achievements at Anfield, Yeats once said: “There have been two of them.
"Being the captain that took the club out of the Second Division after eight years was a very, very proud moment.
“We won the league by eight or nine points that season and to follow that by being the first captain of Liverpool to lift the FA Cup is something I am very proud of.
“I do not go round with the medals on my chest, it is just there for me to say.”
"The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Ron’s wife, Ann, all of his family and his friends at this incredibly sad time," Liverpool said.
Flags across club sites will be lowered to half-mast as a mark of respect.
Former Reds defender Phil Thompson joined Liverpool in January 1971, during the season which Yeats left, and later returned to the club as assistant manager.
“So sad to hear of the passing of Big Ron Yeats,” Thompson said on X, formerly Twitter.
“One of my heroes as a kid and had the pleasure to become his friend. Doesn’t get much better. RIP Big Man.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher felt Yeats was one of the pioneers who laid the foundations for the club’s success.
“A giant of a man and a giant of a player,” Carragher said on social media.
“Everything at Liverpool starts with people like Big Ron. RIP.”
John Aldridge added his own tribute to Yeats.
“Woke up today to the sad news of one of Liverpool football club’s all-time greats as a player and a captain, Ron Yeats,” former Reds forward Aldridge said.
“What a man. I’m honoured to have met him on many occasions.
“What Ron and the family have gone through the past eight years with his illness is unbelievably sad.
“All our thoughts from the ex-players are with his family. Good night, God bless Ron RIP.”
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler added: “RIP to the great man. Thinking of Ron’s friends and family.”
During his time with Tranmere, Yeats guided Rovers to a memorable win over Arsenal at Highbury in the 1973 League Cup.
Tranmere chairman Mark Palios, who began his playing career under Yeats at the Merseyside club, said: “Ron was the guy who gave me my start and signed me as a professional.
“He was also instrumental in the career of so many more – Ronnie Moore, Bobby Tynan, Dickie Johnson, Steve Coppell, just to name a few. He was a motivational manager and still a tremendous player, as he showed at Highbury in 1973.
“A true colossus, as Bill Shankly called him. One of the good guys in football. He’ll be sorely missed, and my thoughts are with his family.”