Colin Pates

Colin George Pates[1] (born 10 August 1961) is an English former professional footballer who made more than 400 appearances in the Football League. He played for various clubs, mainly in London, in a defensive role.[2]

Colin Pates
Personal information
Full name Colin George Pates
Date of birth (1961-08-10) 10 August 1961
Place of birth Wimbledon, London, England
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1988 Chelsea 281 (10)
1988–1990 Charlton Athletic 38 (0)
1990–1993 Arsenal 21 (0)
1990–1991 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 17 (0)
1993–1995 Brighton & Hove Albion 50 (0)
1995–1996 Crawley Town
1997 Romford 4 (0)
Total 410 (11)
Managerial career
1995–1996 Crawley Town
1998–1999 Wingate & Finchley
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Pates was born in Wimbledon, London. began his career with Chelsea, making his debut as an 18-year-old in a 7–3 victory against Orient in 1979.[3] He remained with Chelsea through the turbulent early 1980s and as club captain led the side to promotion in 1983–84.[3] He was sold to Charlton Athletic in October 1988 for £400,000 having made 346 appearances for the Blues.[3][4]

15 months later Pates joined Arsenal for £500,000 in January 1990. His debut for Arsenal came at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday 17 February 1990. Arsenal, already having Steve Bould, Tony Adams, David O'Leary and Andy Linighan dominating the centre half positions, Pates was reduced to playing in only 12 full League games in his stay at Highbury of over two and a half years.

He was part of the Arsenal side that won the First Division in 1991 but only played in one match, which was not enough games to earn a winner's medal. He came in as a substitute for Linighan after 63 minutes against Crystal Palace at Highbury 23 February 1991.[5] Pates was loaned out to Brighton & Hove Albion when the club had an injury crisis, for the rest of the 1990-91 season, playing a valuable role and helped them reach the Second Division play-offs. [6]

Pates became an important figure for Arsenal in the 1991-92 season, when he stepped in to cover for injuries to Adams and Bould. His only goal for the Gunners came when he scored the goal that put Arsenal in front against Benfica in the European Cup second round tie at Highbury 6 November 1991.[7] Arsenal had granted Pates a Free transfer in August 1993 and a move to Brighton & Hove Albion became permanent.[8][9]

After a knee injury forced his retirement from the top-level game, he moved into coaching. He was appointed player-manager of Crawley Town, leaving in 1996,[8] and then had a brief stint playing for Romford.[10] He gained coaching qualifications while managing Wingate & Finchley, and since 2001 has coached football at Whitgift School in South Croydon.[11][12]

References
  1. "Colin Pates". Gunnermania. Johan Karlsson. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  2. "Colin Pates". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  3. Barker, Kelvin. "Colin Pates Biography". Football Heroes. Sporting Heroes Collections. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  4. "Players: Over 300 Appearances". Chelsea. Archived from the original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  5. "Arsenal appearances 1990/91". arseweb.com. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  6. "i-loved-the-club-and-the-fans-were-incredible". 28 February 2023.
  7. "Colin Pates". arsenal.com. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  8. "Arsenal old boys, 1986/87 – present". Arseweb. Rupert Ward. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  9. Harris, Jeff (1995). Arsenal's Who's Who. Independent UK Sports Publications.
  10. "162. Colin Pates". Romford FC Archive. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  11. "Pates is on a mission with a squad of 1,400". The Argus (Brighton). 6 October 1998. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  12. "Where are they now?". BBC Sport. 13 April 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
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