OzWhite's Leeds United F.C. History
Leeds United F.C. History : Foreword
1919-29 - The Twenties
1930-39 - The Thirties
1939-46 - The War Years
1947-49 - Post War Depression
1949-57 - The Reign of King John
1957-63 - From Charles to Revie
1961-75 - The Revie Years
1975-82 - The Downward Spiral
1982-88 - The Dark Years
1988-96 - The Wilko Years
1996-04 - The Rollercoaster Ride
2004-17 - Down Among The Deadmen
2018-22 - The El Loco Era: Back Where We Belong
2022-24 - Marsch back to the Championship
100 Greatest LUFC Players Ever
Greatest Leeds United Games
Players' Profiles
Managers' Profiles
Leeds City F.C. History
Leeds City F.C. Player and Manager Profiles
Leeds United/City Statistics
Leeds United/City Captains
Leeds United/City Friendlies and Other Games
Leeds United/City Reserves and Other Teams

Bates: William Ederick (Billy)

1907-1909 (Leeds City Player Details)

Full Back

Born: Kirkheaton, Yorkshire: 05-03-1884

Debut: v Stockport County (h): 17-04-1908

5’7 1/2” 11st 6lb (1907)

His father, Willie, was the Yorkshire and England All-Round Cricketer. Initially a Centre-Forward, he signed professional forms for Bolton Wanderers in 1906. He played twice for the Trotters before being converted to a Full-Back and moving to Leeds City in July 1907. He spent two seasons at Elland Road but football was not his forte and having failed to establish himself in that code, he turned to cricket to find fame as a cricketer with Yorkshire from 1907 to 1913. He then played as a professional in Briton Ferry and thereby qualified to play for Glamorgan. He won a regular place in their team and became a most reliable opening batsman. He was a prolific run scorer, scoring several centuries and usually managing more than a thousand runs each season. With a fellow Tyke, Arnold Dyson, he shared in a first wicket stand of 233 against Yorkshire at Sheffield in 1930. Bates was also a useful left-arm spinner and close to the wicket fielder. He played for Glamorgan until 1931, and subsequently played for Cheshire in the Minor County Championship. He then became a groundsman and coach in Northern Ireland. His son Ted Bates was a very famous Player and Manager with Southampton, where he attained legendary status. As an Inside Forward his son played at the Dell from 1937 to 1952, making two hundred and two League appearances and scoring sixty-five goals before becoming a much respected Manager from 1955 to 1973, later becoming a Director of the club and was awarded an MBE for services to football. Billy died in Belfast on 17th January 1957.

AppearancesGoals
League 150