Charlie Bates

Who was Charlie Bates?

Charles "Charlie" Bates was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward. After his retirement from football, Bates qualified as a chiropodist.

As a youth, Bates played local football in the Birmingham leagues. He later had a spell with Darlington, before joining Football League Second Division side Burnley in May 1910. He made his debut for the club on 3 December 1910 in the 2–1 win over Leicester Fosse at Turf Moor, in place of Tommy Mayson, and kept his place in the team for the next two matches. After four games out of the team Bates was selected for the first match of 1911, away at Glossop, and scored his first League goal in the 1–1 draw. He scored twice in the following game, securing a 2–1 victory against Huddersfield Town with a penalty kick four minutes from time. During the remainder of the season Bates made sporadic appearances for Burnley; his two goals in the 5–3 win against Stockport County on 18 March 1911 meant he ended the campaign with a record of 5 goals in 13 games.

Hampered by injury, Bates played just two first-team matches for Burnley during the 1911–12 season.