Guy Bates

Guy Bates (born 31 October 1985) is an English former footballer who played as a forward.

Guy Bates
Personal information
Full name Guy Bates
Date of birth (1985-10-31) 31 October 1985
Place of birth Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Playing position(s) Forward
Youth career
1993–2004 Newcastle United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Newcastle United 0 (0)
2005 Newcastle Jets 3 (0)
2006 Darlington 9 (1)
2006–2007 Oostende 16 (4)
2007–2008 Drogheda United 28 (1)
2008–2009 La Louvière 12 (6)
2009–2010 Drogheda United 13 (0)
2010–2012 Blyth Spartans 4 (0)
2012–2014 Glenavon 71 (25)
2015 Adamstown Rosebud 15 (13)
2015–2016 Linfield 30 (3)
2016–2017 Glenavon 22 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Newcastle United

Bates joined his hometown club Newcastle United at the age of 8 in 1993. He worked his way through the ranks, setting several junior goalscoring records during that time[1][2] and playing alongside good friend and fellow academy graduate Steven Taylor. With a view to progressing all the way to the first team, Bates played in the Newcastle Youth team until 2004, with his goal taking the team to the final 16 in the 2003–04 FA Youth Cup.[3] The following season, Bates found a regular spot in the Reserves team, making 15 appearances and scoring 6 goals in the 2004–05 season.[4] Promotion into the first team proved significantly more difficult for Bates, however, as he was fighting for a place behind established strikers such as Alan Shearer, Shola Ameobi and Patrick Kluivert.[1][5]

Newcastle United Jets

The lack of opportunities for Bates led him to seek a release from Newcastle and head to Australia in January 2005, where he had a trial with Newcastle United Jets. Two months later, in March, Bates signed a two-year deal with the newly established club, and spoke publicly about the possibility of a long-term stay in Australia.[6]

Bates played and scored regularly in the Jets' pre-season campaign, but did not make his A-League debut until round 4 of the competition, playing 64 minutes in a 4–0 victory over New Zealand Knights.[7] The match was one of just three appearances Bates made in the 2005–06 season,[8] and in November 2005, Bates was released by the club by mutual agreement, citing a lack of match time for wanting to leave.[9] Bates returned home to England in the hope of joining another club during the European January transfer window.

Darlington

Bates trialled at both English League Two club Darlington and Belgian club K.V. Mechelen, receiving an offer from the latter after scoring a hat-trick in a trial game.[10] He turned it down however, to play in his home country with Darlington, for whom he had already scored for in a trial match against Hartlepool United.[10] Bates officially joined Darlington on 3 February 2006, signing a short-term deal until June 2006.[11] Bates made his Darlington league debut the day after signing, coming on as a substitute in the team's 0–0 draw with Boston United. Despite being unable to find the back of the net in that match, it took Bates just 10 minutes into his next appearance to score his first Darlington goal, in a 2–0 reserves win against Hull City.[10] Over the remainder of the season, Bates could not find a regular starting spot in the Darlington line-up, and played just nine games for one goal as the team finished 8th in the league.[12] Bates was released by the club in May 2006,.[13] He then played for KV Oostende in the Belgian Second Division.

Drogheda United

Bates signed for League of Ireland Premier Division leaders Drogheda United 31 July 2007. He scored the winner against Cork City which won the title for Drogheda for the first time ever in October 2007.

Bates played for R.A.A. Louviéroise in the third division of Belgium before rejoining Drogheda on 8 July 2009 [14]

Glenavon

On 7 July 2012, Bates signed a one-year contract with Irish League side Glenavon. Throughout the 2013–14 season, Bates enjoyed a good run of form, scoring over 20 goals, securing a top-6 finish for the Lurgan club along with the club's first Irish Cup since 1997. Despite earlier signing a two-year contract extension, Bates was to leave Glenavon on 31 August 2014 in order to emigrate to Australia. Bates played his last match for Glenavon on 31 August 2014 as a late sub in a 2–1 victory over Ballymena United but remained in contract with the club until June 2016 and therefore could rejoin the club when he returned to Northern Ireland.

Linfield

However, in June 2015 Linfield bought out the rest of Bates contract with Glenavon, becoming their fourth signing of the summer. Linfield manager Warren Feeney said Bates was a player he always admired, however Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton said he was let down by the player's decision to renege on the verbal agreement he had made.[15]

Bates found first-team opportunities at Linfield limited after David Healy succeeded Feeney as manager, and on 22 June 2016, it was announced that Bates' contract would be terminated by mutual consent.

Second spell at Glenavon

Bates resigned for the Lurgan Blues on a one-year deal on 19 July 2016, the same day former Celtic and Northern Ireland winger Paddy McCourt signed for the club. Bates left the club at the end of his contract.

Honours
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gollark: What? That's osmarks's site.
gollark: What do you consider "my site"?
gollark: -3/10, not enough prime numbers.
gollark: PotatOS™ can generate numbers with 8 factors or more or less.

References
  1. "I like being a prize guy, says Bates". The Journal. 30 October 2007.
  2. "Top Guns - Jets Youth Aim High". 4 August 2005. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  3. "Stoke City Youths 0, Newcastle United Youths 1". icNewcastle. 21 January 2004. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  4. "A-League Ex-Files: Newcastle United Jets FC". pintculture.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  5. "Jets sign Magpie Guy". The World Game. 16 March 2005. Archived from the original on 4 September 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  6. "Newcastle Jets signing Bates has eyes on Aussie cap". 19 April 2005. Archived from the original on 10 September 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  7. Cockerill, Michael (19 September 2005). "Knightmare for rivals as Jets fire title warning". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  8. "Player Statistics". Archived from the original on 20 August 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  9. "Guy Bates Returns Home". 22 November 2005. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  10. "Bates finds feet at Darlington". The World Game. 10 February 2006. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  11. "Hodgson happy to give Bates short-term deal". 3 February 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  12. "Breaking News". 17 May 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  13. "Bates released by Darlington". The World Game. 19 May 2006. Archived from the original on 29 August 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
  15. "Guy Bates joins Linfield". bbc sport. BBC.
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