Young scholar Ellis Bates had what it took to earn his first call-up to Boro’s first team squad midway through the 2024-5 season. In fact, he went one better and made his debut on the final day of the campaign away to Bolton; nearly scoring a first Boro’ goal in the process. Such was his impact that Bates signed his first professional deal with the club shortly after the season’s end. In doing so, it underlined the player’s glittering potential going into future years. First confirmed as one of our 2023-4 First-Year intake, Bates was part of a youth side that was capturing attention in and out of the club.

Bates himself seemed like a super fit for us; being a “dynamic central defender who leads by example and enjoys the physical side of the game”.