WHERE ARE THEY NOW? CHRIS YATES
21st April 2009 12:09pm by John Everton posted in Off the pitch‘KIWI’ HAS BEEN COACHING WIMBLEDON TO SUCCESS
As we are shortly to bid farewell to Luke McAlister upon his return to his native land, let us not forget Chris Yates, fondly known as ‘Kiwi’, who ‘did it all before’.
Born in Otahuhu and having played for Auckland Varsity, Chris (38 next month) moved to the Manchester area in 1991, finding game time with Saddleworth Rangers and Old Aldwinians before moving to Heywood Road. Chris, a centre or winger, made his debut against Saracens in 1994 and stayed until his final game for the club on 8th May 1999, a 13-27 defeat against Wasps in front of a crowd of 4,495. With his slick, greased-back hair and strong runs for the try line, Chris was a popular figure in those early professional days. He moved to Gloucester, then Worcester (both in the company of Kingsley Jones) and his list of clubs continues: Grenoble, Plymouth Albion, Doncaster (assistant player/coach to KJ), Esher, Worthing and currently Wimbledon. Chris’s current club would have secured second spot in London 3 South West Division behind Chichester, had they not surprisingly lost 14-21 to lowly London Irish Amateurs a fortnight ago. Their play-off place depends on their final home game against the leaders tomorrow. They start one point clear of Guildford and three ahead of London Cornish. One of the RFU’s founder member clubs, Wimbledon’s first recorded game was in 1865 against Richmond.
We caught up with Chris in the London area, where, apart from being Wimbledon’s coach, he works for Preswick Investments, part of the Dorking-based Artev Global Group, “selling property abroad in places like Spain, Cyprus and Turkey. Anyone looking, give me a call: 01306 646687,” he jokes. He carried on answering our questions:
Do you still keep in touch with old Sale team mates?
Yes, but I’ve not been up to Manchester for a while. I need to make the trip!
What was your best playing moment for Sale?
Scoring that drop goal at Harlequins in 1997!
Jos Baxendell reports that you celebrated long into the night after scoring that decisive kick. Can the truth be told?
Yes….I’d like to know, as I can’t remember anything after 9 p.m.!
Which was your best try for Sale?
My first one against Northampton. A great team try in a game none of the so-called rugby gurus said we would win.
Any characters at Heywood Road?
Paul Turner - great player and coach but as mad as a hatter! Plenty of other friends, too: great days!
Printable stories?
None.
You were at Kingsholm at the same time as PSA and KJ. Any stories there?
Too many! Either too boring or too exciting to print….nothing in between!
How did coaching evolve?
I was assistant coach at Castle Park, Doncaster under Kingsley and went on from there. It keeps my hand in the game, which is great.
Any further ambitions?
To get Kingsley’s job!
Jos Baxendell says of Chris, “He was a pleasure to play with, very powerful and always got you across the gain line. We complemented each other very well as centre partners: he did the hard work and I was the artist….well, something like that!”
Kingsley adds, “You couldn’t help liking Chris - he was irrepressible. A great bloke: he came with me from Gloucester to Worcester, and we teamed up later at Doncaster. Prior to coming to Sale Sharks, I’d heard so much about Jos Baxendell from Yatesy that I felt I knew him before I even met him!”
The records show that Chris scored 19 League tries and 2 drop goals for Sale in 69 appearances, seven off the bench.
In his final game, ten years ago, the Sale team was listed in the programme as: Jim Mallinder; Barrie-Jon Mather, Jos Baxendell, Chris Yates, Matt Moore; Shane Howarth, Richard Smith; Duncan Bell, Phil Greening, Dawie Theron, Dave Baldwin, Chris Murphy, Pete Anglesea, Pat Sanderson, Andy Morris. Replacements: Paul Knight, Dion O’Cuinneagain, Jan Machacek, Andy Whittle, Paul Smith, Phil Winstanley, Steve Diamond.
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