Alan Tate

Alan Tate

Personal information
Full name	Alan Tate
Date of birth	(1982-09-02) 2 September 1982 (age 29)
Place of birth	Easington, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Swansea City
Number	5
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2004	Manchester United	0	(0)
2001–2002	→ Royal Antwerp (loan)	17	(1)
2002–2003	→ Swansea City (loan)	27	(0)
2003	→ Swansea City (loan)	9	(0)
2004–	Swansea City	253	(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 May 2011 (UTC)[1]. † Appearances (Goals).

Alan Tate (born 2 September 1982) is an English professional footballer, who plays for Swansea City in the Premier League.

Career

Born in Easington, County Durham, Tate began his career as a trainee at Manchester United earning himself a professional contract. Although he went on to captain United's reserve team, which included such players as Quinton Fortune, Luke Chadwick and Chris Eagles, he failed to break into the first team. Tate enjoyed a loan spell at Royal Antwerp before spending two loan periods at Swansea City. He played a major role in the club's battle against relegation from the Football League in the 2002–03 season, before joining the club on a permanent basis on 6 February 2004.

Initially a centre back, Tate made a successful transition to the right back slot. He further showed his versatility by playing several games in the centre of midfield during an injury crisis at the club during the 2005–06 season, which saw him named as the club's Player of the Year. Tate was in the Swansea City team which won the Football League Trophy final against Carlisle United on 2 April 2006. After the final whistle, he and Lee Trundle were photographed holding a Welsh flag bearing the words "Fuck off Cardiff" which had been handed to them by Swansea supporters.^[2] The pair claimed to have been unaware of the message written on the flag. On 24 June 2006, both players were fined a week's wages and warned as to their future conduct by the Football Association of Wales, having already received police cautions for public order offences.^[3]

Swansea City reached the League One play-off final against Barnsley on 27 May 2006. The match finished at 2–2 after extra time, and went to a penalty shootout. With Swansea trailing 4–3, Tate missed the decisive fifth penalty, sealing Barnsley's promotion.^[4]

He continued mainly playing at right back under Kenny Jackett and occasionally midfield to cover for injuries in the 2006–07 season. When former Swansea captain Roberto Martínez took over as the new manager by the 2007–08 season, Tate had lost his place at right back to new arrival Angel Rangel.

During the 2008–09 season, Tate covered all positions in defence, including goalkeeper against Queens Park Rangers.^[5] After injuries to Marcos Painter and Fede Bessone, Tate played at Left-Back for the rest of the 2008–09 season. Tate had a superb 2009–10 season as he played most of his games in his favourite position at centre back due to Garry Monk's injury laden season. He also captained most of the season as well. For the 2010–11 season, under new manager Brendan Rodgers, he resumed his position at left-back, although he has played centre back ever since Garry Monk got injured in an FA Cup tie against Colchester United on 8 January 2011.

On 28 August 2011, Tate broke his leg in a golf buggy accident, managing to lodge his leg between the buggy and a tree. The injury is said to rule him out for up to six months. He made his comeback as a late substitute for Swansea in their penultimate game of the 2011–12 season at Old Trafford appearing against his former club, Manchester United.

Honours

Swansea City

• League One Champions: 1

2007–08

• Football League Trophy: 1

2005–06

• FAW Premier Cup: 2

2004–05, 2005–06

Career statistics

As of 24 August 2011

References

External links

• Alan Tate career stats at Soccerbase