Ted Bates (footballer)
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| Ted Bates | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Edric Thornton Bates | |
| Date of birth | 3 May 1918 | |
| Place of birth | Thetford, England | |
| Date of death | 28 November 2003 | |
| Place of death | Southampton, England | |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in | |
| Nickname | Mr. Southampton | |
| Position | Forward | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| 1935-1936 | Norwich City | |
| Professional clubs* | ||
| Years | Club | Apps (goals) |
| 1936–1937 1937–1953 |
Norwich City Southampton |
0 (0) 202 (63) |
| Teams managed | ||
| 1955-1973 | Southampton | |
|
* Professional club appearances and goals |
||
Edric Thornton (Ted) Bates MBE , born Thetford, 3 May 1918 and died 28 November 2003, was a former Southampton F.C. player, manager, director and president which earned him the sobriquet Mr. Southampton.
Contents |
[edit] Playing Career
Bates joined Saints on his 19th birthday in 1937, transferring from Norwich City. He soon forced his way into the first team and made a name for himself as a forward who played 216 times, scoring a fairly respectable 64 goals. He would have played a lot more if the Second World War hadn't got in the way, but he still occasionally played for Saints throughout the fighting. Bates' finest playing days came between 1947 and 1951 when he formed a great partnership with Charlie Wayman.
Aafter some declining performances on the pitch, Bates made his last first team appearance on 20 December 1952 at home to West Ham United. After retired from playing he became a coach at Southampton in May 1953.
[edit] Management
Bates wasn't a coach very long when he was offered the manager's job in 1955, taking over from George Roughton. He was set the task of getting Saints out of the (then regional) Third Division South and into the national Second Division. He achieved this in 1959 when Saints finished as Champions with Derek Reeves hitting an amazing 39 league goals (still a record) and started the sixties just one division below the big boys.
After a few years of battling performances in the 2nd Division, Saints were promoted to the First Division in 1966 to play with the big boys. Almost 15,000 Saints fans packed out Leyton Orient's ground as Terry Paine headed the goal that meant top flight football. Saints consolidated in the first division as young talent like Mick Channon was complimented with the inspired signing of Ron Davies that saw Saints earn European football with a 7th place finish in 1969. That was achieved again in 1971.
Bates decided to step down as manager in December 1973 when Lawrie McMenemy took his place after poor performances that season. Unfortunately, Saints were relegated to the Second Division at the end of the season. Bates stayed by McMenemy's side on the bench for many games in the next few years, that climaxed with the FA Cup win in 1976.
[edit] Director
Bates was the first person to congratulate McMenemy and the players as the final whistle was blown at Wembley. Bates then joined Saints board, where he would serve as a director for another 20 years before being appointed the club's president with mostly symbolic powers and duties. He was then honoured with the MBE in 1998 for services to football and received the freedom of the city of Southampton in the same year.
Bates was widely regarded as a local hero for his dedication to the club over the past 66 years, with his death in November 2003 coming as a huge blow to everyone associated with the club. The first game after his death was the home match against Portsmouth F.C., an already potentially volatile clash of two local rivals. But the club insisted on holding a minutes silence in Bates' memory which barely lasted 30 seconds after jeers and boos from a minority of "fans" in the away end. Those who booed and jeered were widely criticised by the media, the Saints and by their own fans.
[edit] External links
For details of Ted Bates Trust see [1]
[edit] References
- David Bull (1998). Dell Diamond. Hagiology. ISBN 0-9534474-0-5.
- Jeremy Wilson (2006). Southampton’s Cult Heroes. Know The Score Books. ISBN 1-905449-01-1.
| Preceded by: George Roughton |
Southampton F.C. Manager 1955 - 1973 |
Succeeded by: Lawrie McMenemy |
