Dean Yates (born 26 October 1967 in Leicester) enjoyed considerable success as a player, making his Notts County debut in their 1984-85 Second Division campaign which ended in relegation.
He was a regular first-team player from 1985-86 onwards, helping them win promotion back to the Second Division in 1990 and to the First Division a year later (both through the playoffs).
However, a serious knee injury in February 1992 ruled him out for the next two years and meant that County were without him when they needed him most - during the final quarter of the 1991-92 season when they battled against relegation from the First Division. The relegation battle was lost, and he managed just one appearance in the 1993-94 season as he made his comeback from injury.
He was fully fit for the 1994-95 season, but his presence in the team wasn't enough to prevent a relegation battle that was ultimately lost.
By the time County went down from Division One (as the old Second Division became known following the creation of the FA Premier League for the 1992-93 season), Yates had transferred to their local rivals Derby County - a £350,000 fee taking him to the Baseball Ground on 26 January 1995. He had played 314 league games in 10 years for Notts County.