Basil Gates
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Basil Hibble Gates | ||
| Date of birth | 10 May 1896 | ||
| Place of birth | Fareham, England | ||
| Date of death | 7 January 1974 (aged 77) | ||
| Place of death | Margate, Kent | ||
| Position(s) | Right-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1924–1925 | Southend United | 1 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1919–1921 | Great Britain/England amateur | 6 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Basil Gates (10 May 1896 – 7 January 1974)[1] was an English footballer.
Career
[edit]Gates served in the Army from 1915 to 1918, becoming Army champion at the 110, 220, and 440 yards in 1917, and on demobilization joined the London Caledonians; although English-born, Gates' mother was Scottish, entitling him to be a member of the Caledonians. He was a member of the Great Britain men's Olympic football team in 1920 (playing in the defeat to Norway)[2] and was named captain of the England amateur side in 1921.[3]
He was an FA Amateur Cup winner with the Caledonians in 1922–23.[4] He also played once in the Football League, for Southend United at Aberdare Athletic in 1924–25 - unfortunately he put through his own goal to open the scoring in a 3–0 defeat.[5]
Gates was known for an unorthodox approach,[6] often breaking free from rigid positional systems and using his lightning pace (he was timed at 10.4 seconds in the 100 yards)[7] to anticipate attacks and prevent through balls.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Basil Gates". Olympedia. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
- ^ "England amateur match results". England Football Online. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "England's Amateur captain". Football Echo: 2. 22 January 1921.
- ^ "Caledonians conquer Evesham in extra time". Athletic News: 2. 23 April 1923.
- ^ "Third League Southern section". Western Mail: 2. 30 March 1925.
- ^ "Basil Gates in League football". Dorset Daily Echo: 2. 27 March 1925.
- ^ "In the limelight". Sporting Echo: 1. 6 November 1920.
- ^ "No goals in keen Cup tie". Daily Telegraph: 17. 24 March 1924.
