GARETH IS MY GUIDING LIGHT
GARETH Southgate inspired a nation by leading England to the World Cup semi-finals – and Hartlepool United manager Matthew Bates is also drawing on him for inspiration.
Back in August 2005, Bates, then a raw 18-year-old defender, made his first Premier League start alongside the experienced Southgate in Boro’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham.
Boro went on to reach the UEFA Cup final that season and soon after boss Steve McClaren left to take the England job. Southgate stepped up to replace him at Boro, going from being one of the players to managing them.
Lower down the ladder, Bates has done the same thing at Hartlepool. The Pools player almost kept the club in the EFL when he took charge for the final two games of 2016-17 season and then had a successful spell in charge last term when he took the reins following the dismissal of Craig Harrison in February.
Stealers
Pools ultimately finished in 15th place, eight points above the drop zone. Bates had done enough to be appointed permanent manager by owner Raj Singh at the end of the season. The 31-year-old, whose playing career was hit by a succession of serious knee injuries, said: “I made my full Premier League debut alongside Gareth and he’s a great leader on and off the pitch. “He’s done something similar to me in playing and then managing the same players, and he took that on well. I take inspiration from him for that, and he’s done brilliantly for the nation. “He’ll be disappointed with how it ended – Croatia were beatable – but he will look at the positives.”
As Bates settles into the Victoria Park hotseat, he can also draw on his experiences of playing under McClaren, Gordon Strachan and Tony Mowbray at Boro.
“You take the good from everyone and you keep in touch with them,” he said. “I spoke to Steve McClaren a few times last season and he’s a sounding board. He was my first manager at Middlesbrough and he’s been great for me.
“I like to read a lot of football books, autobiographies to get a few ideas as well. I read a good quote in a book recently – the best managers are the best stealers!”
Bates is set to be the youngest manager in the National League this term, but believes that can work in his favour.
“I’m not long out of the changing room and I think I know what the players want and don’t want,” he said. “I think I know how to speak to players – they want you to be honest with them.”
Signings
One major plus for Bates and Pools this season is that they know what to expect from Non-League’s top tier. Relegation from the EFL, financial problems, the messy exit of striker Padraig Amond to Newport and a poor start to National League life left Pools under pressure right from the off last year.
This summer has been different. Bates has been busy in the transfer market and added some eye-catching signings, not least classy midfielder Liam Noble, 27, who has joined from Notts County.
“I’ve had great backing from the new owner and the board,” added Bates. “If someone had said at the start of the summer we would get these signings, I would have snapped their hand off.
“The target is to build on last season and build a team that can compete this season and then we can go again.”