▁the ▁tur bul ent ▁early ▁ 1 9 8 0 s ▁and ▁as ▁club ▁captain ▁led ▁the ▁side ▁to ▁promotion ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 3 – 8 4 . ▁He ▁was ▁surprising ly ▁sold ▁to ▁Char l ton ▁Athlet ic ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁for ▁£ 4 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁having ▁made ▁ 3 4 6 ▁appearances ▁for ▁the ▁Blues . ▁Two ▁years ▁later ▁P ates ▁joined ▁Ar sen al ▁for ▁£ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 9 0 . ▁He ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Ar sen al ▁side ▁that ▁won ▁the ▁old ▁First ▁Division ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁but ▁only ▁played ▁in ▁one ▁match ▁which ▁was ▁not ▁enough ▁games ▁to ▁ear n ▁a ▁winner ' s ▁medal . ▁He ▁scored ▁once ▁during ▁his ▁time ▁at ▁Ar sen al ; ▁his ▁goal ▁coming ▁in ▁the ▁European ▁Cup ▁against ▁Ben fica . ▁After ▁struggling ▁to ▁break ▁into ▁the ▁side ▁he ▁signed ▁for ▁Bright on ▁& ▁H ove ▁Alb ion ▁on ▁loan , ▁a ▁move ▁which ▁became ▁permanent ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 3 . ▁ ▁After ▁a ▁kne e ▁injury ▁forced ▁his ▁ret irement ▁from ▁the ▁top - level ▁game , ▁he ▁moved ▁into ▁co aching . ▁He ▁was ▁appointed ▁player - manager ▁of ▁C raw ley ▁Town , ▁leaving ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁and ▁then ▁had ▁a ▁brief ▁st int ▁playing ▁for ▁Rom ford . ▁He ▁gained ▁co aching ▁qual ifications ▁while ▁man aging ▁Wing