| George Yardley | |
| Fullname: | George McArthur Yardley |
| Birth Date: | 1941 10, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland |
| Death Date: | [1] |
| Death Place: | Dalgety Bay, Fife, Scotland |
| Position: | Goalkeeper, centre forward |
| Youthclubs1: | Abbotshall Boy's Brigade |
| Youthclubs2: | Novar Star Youth |
| Youthclubs3: | Frances Colliery Juniors |
| Years1: | 1959–1964 |
| Clubs1: | East Fife |
| Caps1: | 62 |
| Goals1: | 17 |
| Years2: | 1964 |
| Clubs2: | Forfar Athletic |
| Caps2: | 4 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1965 |
| Clubs3: | St. George-Budapest |
| Years4: | 1966 |
| Clubs4: | Luton Town |
| Caps4: | 1 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 1966–1969 |
| Clubs5: | Tranmere Rovers |
| Caps5: | 76 |
| Goals5: | 49 |
| Years6: | 1969 |
| Clubs6: | St. George-Budapest |
| Years7: | 1969–1970 |
| Clubs7: | Tranmere Rovers |
| Caps7: | 46 |
| Goals7: | 19 |
| Clubs8: | St. George-Budapest |
| Years9: | 1973–1974 |
| Clubs9: | Altrincham |
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.
Born 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.[2] At Frances Colliery Juniors he played mostly as a forward, occasionally playing in goal.
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. In 1964 Yardley trialled with Forfar Athletic, playing four matches. He then played out the second half of the 1963/1964 season with Montrose.
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.[3] [4]
On returning from Australia in October 1966, Yardley trialled for a month with English Fourth Division team Luton Town, playing one match.[5] In November 1966 he moved to Tranmere Rovers. In four seasons between 1966 and 1970 he played 123 matches, scoring 68 goals.[6] He was leading goal scorer for Rovers on four separate occasions.[7]
His second stint in Australia was in 1969 before returning to Tranmere Rovers. At the completion of his career at Tranmere he moved again to Australia. Yardley had a short stint with Altrincham in the 1973–74 season.[8]
Yardley played one match on 5 March 1960 for Scotland Amateurs against Wales at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock, which ended 3-3.[9]
After his football career, Yardley became a design draughtsman on the Wirral. He died on 14 November 2018 in a care home at Dalgety Bay, Fife.[1]