Played: 132 (and 5 Sub)

Scored: 14

Yellow Cards: 12

Red Cards: None

The latest addition to the Total Tranmere Dream Team is right-back Steve Yates. Probably the only Tranmere player to have a day of the year dedicated to him by Rovers fans, Yatesy will forever be a popular and well thought of figure around Prenton Park and he is sure to receive a fantastic welcome back there if he plays for his current club Huddersfield Town when they visit Prenton Park in February.

Yates signed for Rovers on a free transfer in August 1999, ending a six-year spell at Queens Park Rangers where he had made 135 appearances. Ironically, given what was to happen in his time at Tranmere, he arrived at Prenton Park having only scored twice in his career and being a defender this shouldn’t have been seen as much of a surprise.

Making his debut on the opening day of the 1999-2000 season in a 0-0 draw at home to Bolton, Yates went on to make 137 appearances for Tranmere (only five of those a substitute) but it is fair to say that it was in Rovers’ cup run of the 2000-01 season which saw them play both their Merseyside neighbours that Yates made his name as a Tranmere legend.

Having already more than doubled his career goals tally in his first season at Tranmere scoring three goals whilst playing a defensive part in Tranmere’s run to their first ever major final, Yates almost singled handedly fired Tranmere to further cup fame and glory the following season.

Having been 2-0 down to then Premiership Leeds Utd in the League Cup, a goal from Yates helped Tranmere to turn the game around, coming back to 2-2 before going on to win 3-2 after extra time. Just over two months later, Tranmere began what was to become a famous FA Cup campaign with Steve Yates becoming the Goal Machine himself, scoring in Rovers Third Round 2-1 win at Portsmouth which set up a massive game in the Fourth Round away at Everton – a game which was to live long in the memory. Yates scored twice that day along with Jason Koumas as Tranmere slaughtered the Blue part of Merseyside in their own back yard. From that day onwards January 27 has been known by Tranmere fans everywhere as St. Yates Day and is always remembered amongst the Rovers faithful.

Every Tranmere fan will know that the Fifth Round replay at home to Southampton will live in the memory for as long as the Everton game before and that comeback set up a Sixth Round home tie against Liverpool with Yates scoring again as Tranmere lost 4-2. In total Yates scored 7 goals in all competitions that season taking his Tranmere career total to 10 in two seasons.

In what was to be Yates’ final season for Tranmere, Rovers enjoyed much home success scoring 4 twice then 5 and then 4 goals again in four successive home games with Yates scoring in the last two games of that sequence in the 5-0 win over Wrexham and the 4-0 win against Blackpool. A month later Yates scored in two successive home matches as Tranmere again hit a purple patch scoring 4 then 6 goals twice then 3 goals again in successive home matches.

In his Tranmere career, Yates scored more goals than he received Yellow Cards which for a defender is remarkable. Rovers fans will always remember him and St. Yates Day and Steve recently announced that this season would be his last as a Player. Make sure he gets the reception he deserves on his return to Prenton Park in February – the sort of reception a legend who gave so many great memories, particularly in the Cup deserves!