When Nottingham Forest announced that Ryan Yates had extended his 19-year association with the club in the summer, they released a video clip of their captain sailing past the City Ground on the Nottingham Princess, an 80ft double-decker cruiser. Known as Mr. Forest to many, Yates joked that he wanted to sign his contract while submerged underwater, snorkel on, with the paper floating above him. However, the club was not keen on the idea, worried about the practicalities.
This story highlights Yates’s warm and down-to-earth character, which has endeared him to fans. Despite now being in his third season as a Premier League midfielder, Yates remembers the humble beginnings of his football journey, which included his professional debut for Barrow in 2016. His first shirt for the club had been hastily prepared by repurposing someone else’s discarded kit, and he humorously recalls running around the pitch “like a headless chicken.” Over time, he played at Shrewsbury, Scunthorpe, and Notts County, becoming one of the few players to score in all five divisions of English football.
Yates is not known for his goal-scoring prowess, but for his aggression and all-action style. His song “If Yatesy scores, we’re in the Trent” became a chant among Forest fans after he scored his first Forest goal five years ago. More recently, he celebrated his second league goal in the Premier League, against Leicester, with goggles to match his desire for more. In fact, he has already planned another celebration, inspired by a popular TV show.
Yates’s self-deprecating personality is evident as he talks about his development. Despite being a Premier League player, he still strives to improve, often seeking the extra 1% to advance his game. He credits his longevity at the club to his hunger to better himself and his focus on leadership, which he hopes will improve with his coaching ambitions. Yates takes inspiration from the time he spent away on loan at clubs like Barrow, where he had to make do with limited resources. A particular memory stands out: living in a hotel room, he would make simple meals like wilted spinach with a kettle and share costs with teammate Joel Dixon, who was less interested in nutrition, preferring pizza and digestive biscuits. Those experiences have shaped his work ethic and appreciation for the luxuries he now enjoys.
In an era where players frequently move clubs, Yates’s commitment to Forest is exceptional. He is now one of the longest-serving players at the club, having joined at age eight, and feels privileged to remain there in a time when many others have come and gone. He recalls almost leaving in the summer of 2018 when Forest’s then-manager, Aitor Karanka, offered him a loan move to Hull City. He was on the verge of departure but ended up staying after Hull pulled out. That determination to stay and prove his worth, despite being raw at the time, played a part in his eventual success.
Yates’s journey from being on the fringes of the first team to becoming a key figure for Forest is a testament to his resilience. After years of near misses, including a crushing failure to reach the playoffs in 2020, Yates focused on transforming the club’s fortunes. As Forest now sit comfortably among the Premier League’s top teams, he reflects on the shift in mindset: no longer merely happy to survive, but aiming to assert their authority and thrive.
Away from football, Yates has a surprising passion for coffee. He is an enthusiastic home barista with a La Marzocco espresso machine, which he considers a treat after Forest’s promotion. He even took a course on latte art and now creates flat whites with a leaf design, much to the delight of his teammates, who rely on him for their caffeine fix when the club’s full-time barista is absent.
As Yates prepares to leave the training ground, he shares a bit of transfer gossip: the club has poached a talented barista from a local coffee shop to work full-time at the club. With his blend of dedication to his career and love for life off the pitch, Yates continues to thrive both on and off the field.
