Role Footballer Name David Bates | Years Team | |
Date of birth (1996-10-05) 5 October 1996 (age 19) 2015 → East Stirlingshire (loan) | ||
David Bates (born 5 October 1996) is a Scottish footballer who plays for Rangers as a defender. Bates has previously played for Raith Rovers, East Stirlingshire and Brechin City.
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Raith Rovers
Born in Kirkcaldy, Bates began his career at his hometown club Raith Rovers. He was first included in a matchday squad on 21 September 2013, remaining an unused substitute in their 4–2 Scottish Championship home win over Alloa Athletic. He was again unused in 13 more league games and two Scottish Challenge Cup fixtures.
In January 2015, Bates was loaned to Scottish League Two team East Stirlingshire for the remainder of the campaign. He made his debut on 3 January, playing the full 90 minutes of a 3–0 loss at Berwick Rangers. Two weeks later, he received a straight red card in a 3–1 home defeat to Annan Athletic. He made 17 appearances in all for the Shire; in his last one he headed the first goal of his career as they finished the season with a 5–1 loss to Albion Rovers at Ochilview Park.
On 25 July 2015, Bates made his first appearance for Raith, playing the entirety of a 1–0 win at Cowdenbeath in the first round of the Challenge Cup. On 8 August, he played his first league game, a 3–0 win over Livingston at Stark's Park on the first day of the Championship season. On 11 September 2015, Bates moved on loan to Brechin City in Scottish League One until 12 December 2015.
Rangers
On 5 August 2016, Bates moved on a development loan to Rangers until January 2017. At the end of his loan, Bates moved on a permanent basis to Rangers. He made his debut for Rangers in a Scottish Premiership match against Kilmarnock on 6 April 2017, starting at centre-back. Bates made his European debut in the opening game of Rangers' 2017-18 season against Progrès Niederkorn on 29 June 2017.
Personal life
Bates, a childhood Rangers fan, suffered a blood clot on his calf which developed into a hematoma causing his move to the club to be delayed for several months.