Background
Oates was born in Leeds, and began his football career with Yorkshire League club Leeds Ashley Road.
Oates was born in Leeds, and began his football career with Yorkshire League club Leeds Ashley Road.
He played primarily as a centre half. While still a non-League football player, he was capped for the England youth team While still playing for that club, he was selected for the England youth team, and played in a match against Northern Ireland youth at Prenton Park, Tranmere Rovers" ground, in April 1974.
Number other non-League football player represented England at youth level for 37 years, until, in February 2011, Luton Town forward Cauley Woodrow made his debut for the England under-17 team
Oates signed for Fourth Division club Scunthorpe United in August 1974. 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 1982-1983 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.