Mick Bates

Michael Bates (19 September 1947 – 12 July 2021) was an English footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Leeds United, Walsall, Bradford City and Doncaster Rovers. He is best known for playing for Leeds during the Don Revie period.

Career Bates was born in Armthorpe, Doncaster, Leeds won the league twice during his time at the club in 1969 and 1974. Bates contributed only four appearances to the first of these titles but ten, enough for a medal, to the second. He remained loyal to Leeds for 12 years despite the fact he would have probably retained a regular place in most other sides. A repetition of knee injuries between 1974 and 1976 kept him out of the action for much of that time. He eventually left Leeds in the summer of 1976, going to Walsall for £25,000. Bates later had spells at Bradford City, from 1978 to 1980 joining for £20,000 and Doncaster Rovers, joining for free. He retired from professional football in 1981 and ran his own insurance firm.

He died on 12 July 2021, aged 73.

Honours FA Cup: 1972 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: 1968, 1971 First Division: 1973–74