Bill Shankly famously invited journalists to take a walk around the “colossus” Ron Yeats, such was his physical presence.
But the impact the rugged Scottish central defender had extended beyond the bounds of his considerable frame as the man who was Liverpool captain for a decade wrote his place in the club’s history.
Yeats, who has died at 86, lifted the Reds’ first FA Cup in 1965, ignoring etiquette by telling the Queen he was “knackered” after an energy-sapping Wembley final win over Leeds United.
He was Liverpool’s longest-serving captain (417 matches) until he was surpassed by Steven Gerrard, winning two league titles in a 10-year career at the club.
Yeats’ life experiences shaped the footballer he became and it was no surprise to see him become a leader of men at Anfield.
Born in Aberdeen in 1937, the childhood home was bombed during the Second World War and they lost everything.
Growing up with his two brothers and sister he played football in those bomb craters and on the dirt roads of his hometown but he owed much to his Causewayend Primary teacher Miss Allen who spotted his potential and got him into the school team.
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