Eric Gates

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Eric Lazenby Gates was an English football player born on June 28, 1955 in Ferryhill, County Durham. He was a striker.

He appeared 345 times for Ipswich Town (plus 39 as substitute) under Bobby Robson, scoring 96 goals and winning the UEFA in 1981 and FA Cups, and received two caps for the English national side in 1981. In 1985 he moved to Sunderland for the sum of £150,000, making 167 league appearances (19 as substitute) and scoring 45 goals. He also made 7 appearances in the FA Cup for the Black Cats, with 2 goals, and 18 in the Football League Cup with 6 further goals.

He almost signed for Newcastle United. But Sunderland offered £100 per week more.

During his time at Sunderland, they were relegated to the third division. The worst ever position the club has ever suffered. Eric was remembered for his strike partnership with Marco Gabbiadini, the pair scoring 42 between them as Sunderland bounced back from their nadir the following season. He scored 4 in a 7-0 rout of Southend United in November 1987. Eric's final goal for Sunderland came in the 1990 Play-off semi-final win at Newcastle United, where he then set up his strike partner to seal a 2-0 win.

In 1990 he left Sunderland for more money and moved to Carlisle United for his final season in league football.

In all, Eric played 515 games and scored 124 goals at league level.

He worked, until recently, for Century FM on The Three Legends show. It was reported on in March they had parted company. Eric is greatly missed by the listeners to The Three Legends radio show.