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Though he was only 18 when he made his debut in a 2-0 home win over
Wolverhampton Wanderers on 27th October 1973, it took Eric Gates quite
some time to establish himself in a successful Ipswich team. An orthodox
midfield player in his early days, competition for places was fierce
and Gates made a total of 17 substitute appearances over two years
before his full debut at Derby County in October 1975. His first goal
arrived that month, in Ipswich's 3-0 UEFA Cup win against FC Bruges.
Capping his best season yet, he started four consecutive matches towards
the end of the campaign in the absence of Brian Talbot.
Gates was one
of a number of young players who gained first-team experience as a
result of Ipswich's poor start to the 1976/77 campaign, but it was an
injury crisis at the beginning of the following season that allowed him
his first lengthy spell in the first team. He started the first 29 games
of the campaign and scored five goals, including one against Barcelona
as Ipswich beat the Spanish giants 3-0. His fortune did not last,
though, and after John Wark's return from injury, he was out of the
side, not playing again after January and thus missing out on all but
the first stage of Ipswich's successful FA Cup run.
In 1978/79, he
featured regularly once again, without securing a permanent spot. With
new signings Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen making midfield places
even harder to come by, Gates often partnered Paul Mariner up front and
consequently proved more dangerous in front of goal, scoring nine times.
Two of his goals secured a 2-1 Cup-Winners-Cup win against Barcelona -
his finest moment yet in a career that was still waiting to flourish. (Csaba Abrahall)
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Photograph of Eric Gates taken 1st. December 1979. by George Herringshaw ©
1979-1982.
A change in Ipswich Town's playing style early in
the 1979-80 season saw Eric Gates, previously something of a peripheral
figure, become an influential player in the successful side of the early
Eighties. Arnold Muhren's request for a greater emphasis on playing the
ball through midfield led to Gates replacing Clive Woods in a new role
behind the front two. The new system was not immediately successful and
Ipswich were struggling at the foot of the table until Gates thumped in a
hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Manchester City in November 1979. That
display secured his place in the side and began a run of 23 unbeaten
league matches that earned Ipswich a UEFA Cup spot.
Along with many of
his team-mates, Gates enjoyed a magnificent season in 1980-81, when he
developed his reputation as a wily attacking player with the ability to
power in long-range shots and the trickery to win a great many
penalties, usually dispatched by the reliable John Wark. He broke into
the England team in the autumn of 1980, winning two caps in World Cup
qualifiers against Norway and Romania. Ipswich, meanwhile, came
desperately close to the league championship and Gates scored one of the
goals in their 2-1 win at Aston Villa in what was dubbed the
'championship decider', but Villa ultimately took the title.
Gates
scored 14 goals that season, the most important of which came in the
UEFA Cup First Round against Aris Salonika, when Ipswich were 3-0 down
in Greece and in danger of losing their 5-1 first-leg lead. Gates' goal
saw them through and they went on to lift the trophy. The following
season Ipswich finished runners-up in the league again with Gates
contributing 15 goals in all competitions. (Csaba Abrahall)
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This shot of Eric Gates playing for Ipswich Town was take on 7th. March 1985. © G. Herringshaw.
1982-1985.
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With manager Bobby Robson having departed to take charge of the England
team, the 1982-83 season saw the beginning of the break-up of the
Ipswich Town team that had been league runners-up in the previous two
seasons. It was a less successful campaign for the club - they finished
9th - and for Eric Gates personally. He managed only four goals, and his
season ended in January when he picked up an injury in an indoor
6-a-side tournament. However, he returned in spectacular fashion with
two goals in a 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the
1983-84 season. Ipswich continued their positive start into October but
slipped down the table and found themselves in serious relegation
trouble for the first time in many years. They seemed doomed until a
series of heroic performances saved them at the death.
With Terry
Butcher injured, Gates took over the captaincy and inspired the team to a
2-2 draw at Liverpool - when he scored both goals - and a magnificent
2-1 win at Manchester United. He finished as the club's top scorer that
season, with 16 goals, including all three in a 3-0 FA Cup win at
Cardiff City. Ipswich endured another season of struggle in 1984-85 -
although they eventually survived again - but Gates' contribution could
not be faulted. He scored another 16 goals, 11 of which he had plundered
by early November. He captained the team once more, in the final game
of the season against West Ham United, a match which turned out to be
his last for the club. Struggling financially following stadium
redevelopment, Ipswich were unable to offer Gates a suitable contract
and he was transferred to Sunderland for £150,000 in August 1985 after
thirteen years at Portman Road. (Csaba Abrahall)
1973–1985 Ipswich Town 296 (73)
1985–1990 Sunderland 185 (46)
1990–1991 Carlisle United 38 (8)
Total 519 (127)
After retiring he became a pig farmer and worked as a radio pundit and after-dinner speaker.
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