Bill Gates (footballer)

William Lazenby Gates (8 May 1944 – 21 October 2023) was an English professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Career
Born in Ferryhill, Gates played for Middlesbrough. He later played for Spennymoor United. He retired aged 30 after suffering from migraines, and later qualified as an accountant before opening a series of sports shops. He inspired a charity campaign related to footballers with dementia after heading footballs, for which his wife, Dr Judith Gates, launched the "Head for Change" and "Head Safe Football" charities. A documentary about Gates called The Billion Pound Game was released shortly after his death.