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George Yardley (footballer)
George McArthur Yardley (8 October 1942 – 14 November 2018) was a Scottish footballer. Yardley began his career as a goalkeeper before becoming a centre forward, most notably for Tranmere Rovers. Playing careerBorn in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Yardley played his first football as a goalkeeper as an eight-year-old playing for Dunnikier Primary School. However, on moving to Temple Hall Secondary School he was forced to play as a forward because another goalkeeper was already playing.[4] At Frances Colliery Juniors he played mostly as a forward, occasionally playing in goal.[4] In 1959 he signed an amateur contract with East Fife as a goalkeeper. After sustaining a hand injury in 1960 Yardley switched to primarily playing as a forward though he did play a number of matches in goal.[4][5] In 1964 Yardley trialled with Forfar Athletic, playing four matches. He then played out the second half of the 1963/1964 season with Montrose.[4] Yardley played for Australian club St. George-Budapest in three separate stints. He played one season at St. George during the 1965 Australian season after emigrating to Australia in August 1964.[6][7] On returning from Australia in October 1966, Yardley trialled for a month with English Fourth Division team Luton Town, playing one match.[4][8] In November 1966 he moved to Tranmere Rovers. In four seasons between 1966 and 1970 he played 123 matches, scoring 68 goals.[9] He was leading goal scorer for Rovers on four separate occasions.[4][6][7][10] His second stint in Australia was in 1969 before returning to Tranmere Rovers.[6] At the completion of his career at Tranmere he moved again to Australia.[7] Yardley had a short stint with Altrincham in the 1973–74 season.[5] International careerYardley played one match on 5 March 1960 for Scotland Amateurs against Wales at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock, which ended 3-3.[4][11] Personal lifeAfter his football career, Yardley became a design draughtsman on the Wirral.[12] He died on 14 November 2018 in a care home at Dalgety Bay, Fife.[2] References
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