Waterford FC are delighted to announce the arrival of Mark Yeates, who has joined our backroom staff as our Interim Assistant Coach for the remainder of the 2025 League of Ireland season, alongside Interim Head Coach Matt Lawlor.
From Dublin, Yeates spent over two decades in his playing career, starting his career with Tottenham Hotspur, where he made his Premier League debut on the final day of the 2003/04 season, assisting Robbie Keane’s opening goal in a 2-0 win away to Wolves.
Mark spent most of his career in the EFL, donning the shirts of profound clubs such as Leicester City, Middlesbrough & Sheffield United. In 2015, whilst a Bradford City player, he was part of The Bantams historic 4-2 FA Cup win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where Yeates netted Bradford’s fourth goal in stoppage time to secure their passage into the next round against the London giants.
After Bradford, Yeates spent time with Oldham, Blackpool & Notts County, before hanging up the boots in 2022 with Bamber Bridge, after an impressive 20 year career that also saw him earn three caps for the Republic of Ireland U21 side under the guidance of Don Givens.
With almost 600 senior career appearances, including just under 200 appearances in both the Championship and League One, Mark moved into coaching in 2020 where he joined Fleetwood Town as their U18s Lead Coach. He then progressed further into the Head Coach role for their U21 side earlier this season.
Yeates now makes the move back to the Emerald Isle where he will work alongside Matt Lawlor for the remainder of the Blues’ 2025 campaign starting with the visit of Drogheda United FC to the RSC this-coming Friday, having already worked closely with Lawlor in the academy set-up at Fleetwood Town.
Welcome to Waterford, Mark!
