07-05-74: Middlesbrough (a) 4-4 (HT ?) Crowd (31,643)

William Lazenby (Bill) Gates was born at Dean Bank, Ferryhill, on 8th May 1944 and, after being educated at Spennymoor Grammar School, graduated through the Middlesbrough Juniors to sign professional forms in October 1961. He captained the England Youth team and made his Boro debut at Centre-Half in a 2-3 loss at Luton Town on 27th September 1961, when still only just seventeen. It was not long before he became the regular central defender at the heart of the Boro defence. He did not progress further in representative football, but his younger brother Eric had much success with Ipswich Town and Sunderland and received two full caps for England. Gates had just won his Second Division championship medal as Boro crushed all opposition with Jack Charlton at the helm and his Testimonial, which was his only reward for his over twelve years of first team appearances. Therefor his Testimonial took place between the Champions of the English First and Second Division, with Leeds having lifted the League Championship that same season. He had studied Accountancy part-time when he first signed for Boro, but he opened his first Sports Store in 1974 and thirteen years later he had expanded his Monument Sports chain to twelve stores, which he sold for £4.4m. At which point he emigrated and bought a beachside villa in the Cayman Islands, returning to England each summer.

Programme

Match Details

For Middlesbrough Malcolm Smith replaced David Mills at Inside Right. While David Stewart replaced David Harvey, Roy Ellam came on for Gordon McQueen, Eddie Gray replaced Peter Lorimer and Keith Parkinson took the place of Joe Jordan for Leeds.

Match Reports: by Cliff Mitchell (Courtesy Martin Taylor)

Preview: 06-05-1974

Leeds all-stars pay tribute to Gates

Leeds United field their strongest available side at home to Sunderland in Billy Bremner's testimonial match tonight and if there are no injuries, that same team will meet Boro at Ayresome Park tomorrow (7.30) for Bill Gates' benefit. The news from Elland Road today was that Leeds' five Scots in the World Cup squad - Billy Bremner, Joe Jordan, David Harvey, Peter Lorimer and Gordon McQueen - were included as was England star Norman Hunter, who will miss the first two League matches of next season through suspension. Frank and Eddie Gray, Terry Cooper, Mick Bates, Roy Ellam and David Stewart are named as substitutes for the following side: Harvey; Reaney, Cherry; Bremner, McQueen, Hunter; Lorimer, Clarke, Jordan, Yorath, Madeley. Willie Maddren will bow out of tomorrow's side to make way for the beneficiary, Bill Gates. Maddren and David Mills leave on Wednesday for the England Under-Twenty-three tour. But Mills is expected to play for a spell at least. Team: Platt; Craggs, Spraggon; Souness, Boam, Gates; Murdoch, Mills, Hickton, Foggon, Armstrong. Substitutes to be anounced. Leeds are bringing their First Division championship trophy and will do a lap of honour with it. I expect Boro to follow suit with the Second Division trophy. Bill Gates has been extremely fortunate with his testimonial match. He told me today that he was delighted at the way things had gone and added: "I've played against Leeds four times in the Second Division, and I've been on the losing side every time. I hope to make the breakthrough tomorrow night!" It is not an all-ticket game. Bremner had hoped that Sunderland tonight would field the full Wembley team that beat Leeds in last year's Cup Final. But that's not possible. Richie Pitt is injured, Vic Halom has tonsilitis and Ron Guthrie is doubtful because of injury. But Denis Tueart and Mike Horswill, sold to Manchester City recently, will return to wear the red and white in this team: Montgomery; Malone, Guthrie or Bolton; Horswill, Watson, Young; Kerr, Hughes Belfitt, Porterfield, Tueart.

Review: 08-05-1974

BORO TURNS ON THE STYLE AS GATES BOWS OUT

Fiesta football, sunshine soccer, gala goals. That was the superbly entertaining fare for 31,643 delighted spectators at Ayresome Park last night when Middlesbrough drew 4-4 with Leeds United in a match that made the fan's mouths water for next season! This Bill Gates testimonial game lived up to its billing as the Match of the Champions. Leeds, Division One titleholders and Boro, their Division Two counterparts, paraded their exciting skills on a night that will live long in the memories of those lucky enough to be there. With no crunching tackles to be worried about, the players had more freedom than in a League or Cup match to reveal their talents. And some of the pattern-weaving had the crowd in raptures. Friendly games are not necessarily good guides, but Boro's performance must surely raise confidence that they will do well in the top flight next season. Their use of the whole width of the field; their inspired build up; their lightning switch of the point of attack; their devastating finishing - these heartening features shone through, friendly match or not. Leading scorer in the season just ended, Alan Foggon, celebrated with a brilliant hat-trick. That plus his non-stop grafting, gave him the Man of the Match rating, and a special trophy, presented to him at the Marton Hotel and Country Club that followed the game. David Mills was Boro's other marksman. Leeds, who trailed by a couple of goals inside the opening ten minutes, fought back like the professionals they are. Joe Jordan and Terry Yorath equalised, Peter Lorimer lobbed one in, and a few minutes from the end skipper Billy Bremner ended the scoring with the final equaliser. Both champions fielded almost full-strength teams - and they played like it. They paraded their championship trophies before the kick-off, then the beneficiary, Gates, ran into the middle of the field to acknowledge the cheers of the faithful. He gave an excellent display in his last match. He hung up his boots in the dressing room after the final whistle after thirteen years of effective professional service at Ayresome Park. His reward - about £16,000 from the testimonial game alone. Teams: BORO: Platt; Craggs, Cochrane; Souness, Boam, Gates; Murdoch, Mills (Smith), Hickton, Foggon, Armstrong.LEEDS: Harvey (Stewart); Reaney, Cooper; Bremner, McQueen (Ellam), Hunter; Lorimer (E. Gray), F. Gray, Jordan (Parkinson), Yorath, Madeley.