Eric Gates
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eric Lazenby Gates | ||
| Date of birth | 28 June 1955 | ||
| Place of birth | Ferryhill, County Durham, England | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1973–1985 | Ipswich Town | 296 | (73) |
| 1985–1990 | Sunderland | 185 | (46) |
| 1990–1991 | Carlisle United | 38 | (8) |
| Total | 519 | (127) | |
| National team | |||
| 1980 | England | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Eric Lazenby Gates is an English former football player born on 28 June 1955 in Ferryhill, County Durham. He was a striker. Gates brother Bill was also a professional footballer who played for Middlesbrough F.C. from 1961-1973.
Gates made his debut for Ipswich Town as an eighteen-year-old on 27 October 1973 at Portman Road replacing Roger Osborne during a 2-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers in front of a crowd of 20,882. Gates would make a further 16 substitute appearances before he made him full debut against Derby County at The Baseball Ground in October 1975. Gates first goal as a professional footballer came later that month in a 3-0 UEFA Cup victory against FC Bruges at Portman Road in the 1st leg of the 2nd round. Highlights of Gates time at Ipswich Town include both goals in a 2-1 over FC Barcelona at Portman Road in the first leg of the 1979 Cup Winners Cup quarter final, as well as the 1978 FA Cup Final although he did not feature in the final. Gates greatest moment was as part of the team that won the 1981 UEFA Cup Final against AZ Alkmaar starting both legs of the final.
Gates final game came in a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United at Portman Road on 17 May 1985. He started 345 times for Ipswich Town with another 39 appearances as a substitute, under Bobby Robson, scoring 96 goals at an average of 1 goal every 4 games.
In 1985 he moved to Sunderland for £150,000 on a wave of optimism on Wearside following the appointment of Lawrie McMenemy as manager. Gates debut came on the opening day of the season at Roker Park on 17 August 1985 in front of a 21,208 crowd that witnessed a 2-0 victory for the visitors Blackburn Rovers. His first goal for The Black Cats came in a 3-3 draw at home to Grimsby Town on 7 September 1985. That first season for Gates at Roker Park however proved to be an unhappy one with Sunderland finishing 18th only two places above the relegation zone.
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