Guy Bates (born 31 October 1985) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for West Allotment Celtic. Career Newcastle United Bates joined his hometown club Newcastle United at the age of 8 in 1993. He worked his way through the ranks, setting several junior goalscoring records during that time and playing alongside good friend and fellow academy graduate Steven Taylor. With a view to progressing all the way to the first team, Bates played in the Newcastle Youth team until 2004, with his goal taking the team to the final 16 in the 2003–04 FA Youth Cup. The following season, Bates found a regular spot in the Reserves team, making 15 appearances and scoring 6 goals in the 2004–05 season. Promotion into the first team proved significantly more difficult for Bates, however, as he was fighting for a place behind established strikers such as Alan Shearer, Shola Ameobi and Patrick Kluivert. Newcastle United Jets The lack of opportunities for Bates led him to seek a release from Newcastle and head to Australia in January 2005, where he had a trial with Newcastle United Jets. Two months later, in March, Bates signed a two-year deal with the newly established club, and spoke publicly about the possibility of a long-term stay in Australia. Bates played and scored regularly in the Jets' pre-season campaign, but did not make his A-League debut until round 4 of the competition, playing 64 minutes in a 4–0 victory over New Zealand Knights. The match was one of just three appearances Bates made in the 2005–06 season, and in November 2005, Bates was released by the club by mutual agreement, citing a lack of match time for wanting to leave. Bates returned home to England in the hope of joining another club during the European January transfer window. Darlington Bates trialled at both English League Two club Darlington and Belgian club K.V. Mechelen, receiving an offer from the latter after scoring a hat-trick in a trial game. He turned it down however, to play in his home country with Darlington, for whom he had already scored for in a trial match against Hartlepool United. Bates officially joined Darlington on 3 February 2006, signing a short-term deal until June 2006. Bates made his Darlington league debut the day after signing, coming on as a substitute in the team's 0–0 draw with Boston United. Despite being unable to