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, the defender was one of a handful of our prospects to gain some experience in that campaign’s Football League Trophy. 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. The player 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”.