Dick Bate to take futuristic approach with the academy

The hugely experienced Bate, recognised among the most knowledgeable coaches in world football, has taken charge of Cardiff City’s Youth Academy.

He has spent almost 20 years in total working for the Football Association, while among the other credits on a glittering CV includes spells coaching the Malaysian and Canadian national teams.

Bate left his job as elite technical director at the FA to join the Bluebirds and work alongside manager Mackay again.

“I was technical director at Watford when Malky was coming to the end of his playing career and moving into a coaching role,” says Bate.

“We would take the reserves and younger players together and have stayed in touch over the last few years.”

The arrival of Bate is another link with Mackay’s time at Watford as he sticks with the tried and trusted to help ensure his coaching team are a tight-knit group.

Bate took charge of the Academy following the departure of Neal Ardley to become manager at League Two AFC Wimbledon.

He will take a ‘modernistic and futuristic’ approach to his work at the Academy, working closely with Mackay, under-21 coach Kevin Cooper, under-18 coach Lee Skyrme and Geraint Twose, who is in charge of the younger Academy players.

“My role is to take an overall perspective of how things are progressing and make certain we are moving in the right direction, that it’s modernistic and futuristic,” says Bate.

“I will work with all the teams, not as a manager, but I will coach age groups from under-21 down.”

Bate is looking forward to plans for a new club training ground coming to fruition because it means his young players will be on the same site as the senior professionals.

“One challenge we face is that the senior players train at the Vale of Glamorgan, while we are at Treforest,” he says. “There is a disconnect between the two and that shouldn’t happen.

“There are plans to put that right and I feel it’s important. When we are all at the same training ground everybody will feel they are together at the club.

“It will also mean Malky will be close at hand when he wants to see what is happening on a daily basis if he wants to, which is not the case right now.”

Bate has been involved in coaching over the last 35 years and has long been recognised as one of the most knowledgeable football coaches in world football.

He is a Fifa technical advisor and Fifa coach and says: “The Academy staff are young, proficient, enthusiastic.

“They are people who come into work for the benefit of Cardiff’s young players.

“There are solid foundations for sure.”

Mackay’s belief is that there should be a direct path from the youngest age group through to senior ranks and Bate says: “Ideally, by the time young players, from the under-21s down to players aged seven or eight, go into the first team they know how the team plays and exactly what is required.

“It can’t be too rigid because the game is constantly evolving, but at least there should be a plan and direction in which you want to take the young players in terms of skill, tactical awareness and more.”

“I have watched and been involved in a fair number of sessions and am quite excited about what the coaches are aiming to do, particularly at younger levels. They are teaching cleverness and craft, not just the orthodox football ways. That gives kids a good basis.

“Overall, my remit is to look after the Academy and the role of the club Academy is to produce players.

“That will be for the first team initially, but we also have to be bringing youngsters through who can play at Premier League and international level.”

Bate was a young player with Sheffield Wednesday, but later opted for a university education.

After teaching at Abbeydale Grange School in Sheffield, Bate played for Alfreton Town and then Boston United, where he began a long association with Howard Wilkinson.

He was captain under Wilkinson’s management and secured his Uefa A coaching licence.

When Wilkinson stepped down as Mossley player-manager during the mid-1970s he recommended Bate as his successor.

Bate’s coaching career took off and he has held a variety of roles with Notts County, Southend, Lincoln, Leeds, Hereford and Watford as well as his work with the FA plus spells in Canada and Malaysia.

“I had been working at the FA for a number of years, almost 20 in total over three spells, and felt I needed another challenge,” says Bate.

“This job with Cardiff City is a new challenge and it’s one I relish.”



Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2KfbeUSXg

Seems like he has the credentials to do a good job with the academy, I bet that spell as Malaysian national coach didn't hurt in his interview either

About 16 years ago he did a training session with Cardiff centre of excellence (as it was back then). I found it a step backwards from the training that was given under Gavin Tait.

I think losing Tait to Southampton I think it was at the time, was a big mistake. He set the benchmark and rejuvunated the set up that the youngers we have had and sold on. A lot of the credit went to Matthew Crocker, addley etc. but Gavin tait set the blueprint. Would have loved to have seen what he could have done with the money these guys have had since, and training grounds.

About 16 years ago he did a training session with Cardiff centre of excellence (as it was back then). I found it a step backwards from the training that was given under Gavin Tait.

I think losing Tait to Southampton I think it was at the time, was a big mistake. He set the benchmark and rejuvunated the set up that the youngers we have had and sold on. A lot of the credit went to Matthew Crocker, addley etc. but Gavin tait set the blueprint. Would have loved to have seen what he could have done with the money these guys have had since, and training grounds.


cheers for that....we should sack him...stuff his fantastic CV and FA experience....you saw him take a session 16 years ago and in your opinion(expert as what you are) he is a step backwards...

are you Gavin or his family?

About 16 years ago he did a training session with Cardiff centre of excellence (as it was back then). I found it a step backwards from the training that was given under Gavin Tait.

I think losing Tait to Southampton I think it was at the time, was a big mistake. He set the benchmark and rejuvunated the set up that the youngers we have had and sold on. A lot of the credit went to Matthew Crocker, addley etc. but Gavin tait set the blueprint. Would have loved to have seen what he could have done with the money these guys have had since, and training grounds.


cheers for that....we should sack him...stuff his fantastic CV and FA experience....you saw him take a session 16 years ago and in your opinion(expert as what you are) he is a step backwards...

are you Gavin or his family?

His fantastic CV of about double figure coaching roles. if he was so good why isnt he still with the FA or a top club, not Canada, or far east.

I would have liked the role to have gone to someone in house on the staff, or maybe asked mcphail if he was interested etc to keep the blueprint working.

About 16 years ago he did a training session with Cardiff centre of excellence (as it was back then). I found it a step backwards from the training that was given under Gavin Tait.

I think losing Tait to Southampton I think it was at the time, was a big mistake. He set the benchmark and rejuvunated the set up that the youngers we have had and sold on. A lot of the credit went to Matthew Crocker, addley etc. but Gavin tait set the blueprint. Would have loved to have seen what he could have done with the money these guys have had since, and training grounds.


cheers for that....we should sack him...stuff his fantastic CV and FA experience....you saw him take a session 16 years ago and in your opinion(expert as what you are) he is a step backwards...

are you Gavin or his family?

His fantastic CV of about double figure coaching roles. if he was so good why isnt he still with the FA or a top club, not Canada, or far east.

I would have liked the role to have gone to someone in house on the staff, or maybe asked mcphail if he was interested etc to keep the blueprint working.

He left his role as at the FA to join us. So he was still with the FA. he has previously worked with Malky at watford so they obviously know eachother and Malky rates him high enough to bring him here.

I think he worked at watford during the same time as young broke through their accademy.

He joined watford from the Canadian FA.

Hes big mates with Howard Wilkinson, he worked under him at the FA when Wilkinson worked behind the scenes, He had him at Leeds also, and i think they crossed paths at Sheff Weds in the 80s firstly

Yea, I get the impression Ramstein Blue had is sweets nicked by Dick Bate 16 years ago and he has never forgiven him.

Working for the FA means naff all. The FA is a shambles.

Having spoken to a couple of the development and academy coaches they were very impressed by Dick Bate and his knowledge of the game.

Looks like a very good addition to our staff

About 16 years ago he did a training session with Cardiff centre of excellence (as it was back then). I found it a step backwards from the training that was given under Gavin Tait.

I think losing Tait to Southampton I think it was at the time, was a big mistake. He set the benchmark and rejuvunated the set up that the youngers we have had and sold on. A lot of the credit went to Matthew Crocker, addley etc. but Gavin tait set the blueprint. Would have loved to have seen what he could have done with the money these guys have had since, and training grounds.


cheers for that....we should sack him...stuff his fantastic CV and FA experience....you saw him take a session 16 years ago and in your opinion(expert as what you are) he is a step backwards...

are you Gavin or his family?

His fantastic CV of about double figure coaching roles. if he was so good why isnt he still with the FA or a top club, not Canada, or far east.

I would have liked the role to have gone to someone in house on the staff, or maybe asked mcphail if he was interested etc to keep the blueprint working.

Where the hell did this random attack come from?

in malky i trust