{{short description|English footballer}} {{use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Guy Bates | image = | caption = | fullname = Guy Bates | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|10|31|df=y}} | birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England | height = | position = Forward | currentclub = Whitley Bay | youthyears1 = 1993–2004 | youthclubs1 = Newcastle United | years1 = 2004–2005 | clubs1 = Newcastle United | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2005 | clubs2 = Newcastle Jets | caps2 = 3 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2006 | clubs3 = Darlington | caps3 = 9 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2006–2007 | clubs4 = Oostende | caps4 = 16 | goals4 = 4 | years5 = 2007–2008 | clubs5 = Drogheda United | caps5 = 28 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 2008–2009 | clubs6 = La Louvière | caps6 = 12 | goals6 = 6 | years7 = 2009–2010 | clubs7 = Drogheda United | caps7 = 13 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2010–2010 | clubs8 = Blyth Spartans | caps8 = 4 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2012–2014 | clubs9 = Glenavon | caps9 = 71 | goals9 = 25 | years10 = 2015 | clubs10 = Adamstown Rosebud | caps10 = 15 | goals10 = 13 | years11 = 2015–2016 | clubs11 = Linfield | caps11 = 30 | goals11 = 3 | years12 = 2016–2017 | clubs12 = Glenavon | caps12 = 22 | goals12 = 2 | years13 = 2021–2024 | clubs13 = West Allotment Celtic | caps13 = | goals13 = | years14 = 2024– | clubs14 = Whitley Bay | caps14 = | goals14 = | club-update = 16:31, 19 April 2022 }} '''Guy Bates''' (born 31 October 1985) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Whitley Bay.

==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<ref name="Bates">{{cite news|title=I like being a prize guy, says Bates|url=http://www.journallive.co.uk/newcastle-sports/football-news/2007/10/30/i-like-being-a-prize-guy-says-bates-61634-20029579/|publisher=The Journal|date=30 October 2007|access-date=18 January 2010|archive-date=7 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307114107/http://www.journallive.co.uk/newcastle-sports/football-news/2007/10/30/i-like-being-a-prize-guy-says-bates-61634-20029579/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastleunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=214&pageid=318|title=Top Guns – Jets Youth Aim High|date=4 August 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823052823/http://www.newcastleunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=214&pageid=318|archive-date=23 August 2006|url-status=dead|accessdate=1 July 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web| title=Stoke City Youths 0, Newcastle United Youths 1| url=http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/news/content_objectid=13840341_method=full_siteid=50081_headline=-Stoke%2DCity%2DYouths%2D0%2D%2DNewcastle%2DUnited%2DYouths%2D1-name_page.html| date=21 January 2004| work=icNewcastle| accessdate=1 July 2006}}</ref> The following season, Bates found a regular spot in the Reserves team, making 15 appearances and scoring 6 goals in the 2004–05 season.<ref>{{cite web| title=A-League Ex-Files: Newcastle United Jets FC| url=http://www.pintculture.com/default.asp?action=category&ID=70| work=pintculture.com| accessdate=1 July 2006| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522233402/http://www.pintculture.com/default.asp?action=category&ID=70| archivedate=22 May 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Bates" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Jets sign Magpie Guy |url=http://www.theworldgame.com.au/a-league/index.php?pid=st&cid=55549 |date=16 March 2005 |work=The World Game |accessdate=1 July 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904054942/http://theworldgame.com.au/a-league/index.php?pid=st&cid=55549 |archivedate=4 September 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===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.<ref>{{cite web| title=Newcastle Jets signing Bates has eyes on Aussie cap| url=http://www.neurotribe.net/aleague/2005/04/newcastle-jets-signing-bates-has-eyes.html| date=19 April 2005| accessdate=1 July 2006| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060910125916/http://www.neurotribe.net/aleague/2005/04/newcastle-jets-signing-bates-has-eyes.html| archivedate=10 September 2006}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web| title=Knightmare for rivals as Jets fire title warning| url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/knightmare-for-rivals-as-jets-fire-title-warning/2005/09/18/1126981946744.html| date=19 September 2005| work=The Sydney Morning Herald| last=Cockerill| first=Michael| accessdate=1 July 2006}}</ref> The match was one of just three appearances Bates made in the 2005–06 season,<ref>{{cite web| title=Player Statistics| url=http://www.newcastlejets.com.au/default.aspx?s=playerstats| accessdate=1 July 2006| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820045044/http://newcastlejets.com.au/default.aspx?s=playerstats| archivedate=20 August 2006}}</ref> and in November 2005, Bates was released by the club by mutual agreement, citing a lack of match time for wanting to leave.<ref>{{cite web| title=Guy Bates Returns Home| url=http://www.newcastleunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=2461| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823045657/http://www.newcastleunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=2461| url-status=dead| archive-date=23 August 2006| date=22 November 2005| accessdate=1 July 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref name="FindsFeet">{{cite web| title=Bates finds feet at Darlington| url=http://www.theworldgame.com.au/a-league/index.php?pid=st&cid=67874&section=st&tid=77| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011085530/http://www.theworldgame.com.au/a-league/index.php?pid=st&cid=67874&section=st&tid=77| url-status=dead| archive-date=11 October 2007| date=10 February 2006| work=The World Game| accessdate=1 July 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref name="FindsFeet"/> Bates officially joined Darlington on 3 February 2006, signing a short-term deal until June 2006.<ref>{{cite web| title=Hodgson happy to give Bates short-term deal| url=http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2006/2/3/217590.html| date=3 February 2006| accessdate=1 July 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref name="FindsFeet"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web| title=Breaking News| url=http://www.darlington.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=19032| date=17 May 2006| accessdate=1 July 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930002636/http://www.darlington.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=19032| archive-date=30 September 2007| url-status=dead}}</ref> Bates was released by the club in May 2006,.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bates released by Darlington |url=http://www.theworldgame.com.au/a-league/index.php?pid=st&cid=71013&section=st&tid=77 |date=19 May 2006 |work=The World Game |accessdate=1 July 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829054003/http://theworldgame.com.au/a-league/index.php?pid=st&cid=71013&section=st&tid=77 |archivedate=29 August 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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<ref>[http://www.droghedaunited.ie/news/single/id/1596]{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Guy Bates joins Linfield|publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33036569}}</ref>

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.

===West Allotment Celtic=== Having taken time out from football following his departure from Glenavon, working as a trainer in a gym,<ref>[https://englishplayersabroad.com/2019/02/13/guy-bates-from-learning-in-belgium-to-becoming-a-legend-in-ireland/Guy Bates: From learning in Belgium to becoming a legend in Ireland] englishplayersabroad.com</ref> Bates made his return to English football in October 2021 to join Northern League Division One club West Allotment Celtic, managed by his brother Jay. He made his debut for the club in a 7–3 FA Vase defeat to Pilkington.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westallotmentcelticfc.co.uk/post/match-report-pilkington-7-3-west-allotment-celtic|title=Match Report : Pilkington 7–3 West Allotment Celtic|website=westallotmentcelticfc.co.uk|date=24 October 2021|accessdate=12 March 2022}}</ref>

== Honours == * '''League of Ireland''' ** Drogheda United – 2007 * '''Irish Cup''' ** Glenavon – 2013–14

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060306231520/http://www.football.co.uk/darlington/players/guy_bates_116558.shtml Guy Bates Darlington profile] *{{soccerway|guy-bates/40155}} *{{soccerbase|43451}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bates, Guy}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Newcastle upon Tyne Category:Men's association football forwards Category:English men's footballers Category:Newcastle United F.C. players Category:Newcastle Jets FC players Category:Darlington F.C. players Category:KV Oostende players Category:Drogheda United F.C. players Category:RAA Louviéroise players Category:Blyth Spartans A.F.C. players Category:Adamstown Rosebud FC players Category:Linfield F.C. players Category:Glenavon F.C. players Category:West Allotment Celtic F.C. players Category:Whitley Bay F.C. players Category:A-League Men players Category:English Football League players Category:League of Ireland players Category:NIFL Premiership players Category:Northern Football League players Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in the Republic of Ireland Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium Category:English expatriate men's footballers Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Ireland Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Belgium Category:21st-century English sportsmen