Bates (pictured) was match official earlier this season in the league fixtures against Millwall (won 1-0) and the South Yorkshire Derby with Doncaster Rovers (2-2).
He was in charge on the opening day of the 1999-00 season when he sent off Axel Smeets as the Blades lost 2-0 at Portsmouth under then manager Adrian Heath.
His last fixture officiated was yesterday’s npower League Two match involving Shrewsbury Town and Bury.
During his time as a professional referee he has been in charge of seventeen matches involving the Blades; his previous involvements are listed below;
:: Previous Blades Fixtures ::
- 18.08.1998 Darlington 0-1 Blades (LC)
- 24.04.1999 Sunderland 0-0 Blades
- 07.08.1999 Portsmouth 2-0 Blades
- 28.10.2000 Wimbledon 0-0 Blades
- 26.01.2002 Preston NE 2-1 Blades (FAC)
- 13.08.2002 Blades 1-1 Portsmouth
- 14.08.2004 Blades 0-1 Reading
- 25.03.2006 Blades 3-0 Southampton
- 29.09.2007 Blades 1-2 Southampton
- 30.09.2008 Doncaster Rovers 0-2 Blades
- 26. 12.2008 Wolves 1-1 Blades
- 24.01.2009 Blades 2-1 Charlton Athletic (FAC)
- 17.10.2009 Scunthorpe 3-1 Blades
- 13.03.2010 Blades 1-1 QPR
- 13.11.2010 Millwall 0-1 Blades
- 03.01.2011 Blades 2-2 Doncaster Rovers
Referee: A. Bates
Assistants: P. Davison & B.Khatib
Fourth Official: P.Graham