Bob Oates

Life and career Oates was born in Leeds,

Oates signed for Fourth Division club Scunthorpe United in August 1974. He made his debut during the 1974–75 Football League season, and gradually established himself as a first-team regular over his first couple of years with the club. In November 1979, by which time he was captain of Scunthorpe, he was moved from his customary centre half position to play as a midfielder, and scored both goals in a 2–0 defeat of Rochdale. After six seasons as a regular, he missed a significant part of the 1982–83 season through injury. Scunthorpe were promoted to the Third Division, and Oates was released. He had made 315 league appearances over his nine years with the club.

He spent one season with Rochdale, also in the Fourth Division, before moving back into non-league football with Watton United.