The family of a North East footballer, who has died aged 79 after several years living with dementia, have paid tribute to "an amazing man".

Bill Gates, who was born in Ferryhill, County Durham, captained the England youth team and played for Spennymoor United, before spending his entire professional playing career with Middlesbrough FC for 13 seasons from 1961.

He continued to be successful after he'd stopped playing. A qualified accountant, he established a chain of sports shops, travelled across the world and was involved in charity work - often wearing his Middlesbrough football shirt, a source of great pride for him throughout his life.

%image('17363707', type="article-full", alt="Bill Gates, left, captained the England youth team")

His wife, Dr Judith Gates, said: "The world was a better place with Bill Gates. He was a footballer, accountant, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He travelled the world and worked with charities around the world.

"He was massively intelligent, phenomenally determined and whatever he set out to do, he would do it."

After playing more than 330 games for Middlesbrough - mostly as a central defender -  he retired from the game aged 30, setting up a sports shop in the town. Soon Monument Sports, which pioneered the link between sportswear and high-street fashion, had stores across the North East.

%image('17363489', type="article-full", alt="Bill Gates, pictured here in a challenge with George Best, played more than 330 games for Middlesbrough")

He sold up in 1988 and moved abroad, becoming involved with charities supported by Coaches Across Continents - a football-focused charity started by their son, Nick - especially in Africa.

Among the projects he was involved in was a programme in Uganda designed to rehabilitate child soldiers - one forced at gunpoint to decapitate both his parents with a machete.

"He did it with compassion, with humility and most of all he did it with respect," said Dr Gates.

%image('17363502', type="article-full", alt="Bill Gates, wearing his Boro shirt as usual, doing charity work in India")

In later years Mr Gates was diagnosed with probable Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) - only able to be confirmed after death - one of the symptoms of which is dementia.

Following the diagnosis, Dr Gates helped found the charity Head for Change in 2021. Later that year, the charity organised the country’s first adult football match to be played with heading restrictions. 

Mr Gates kicked off the match at the Brewery Field, the home ground of Spennymoor Town, who he first played for aged 16.

Just last month, Dr Gates launched a related charity, Head Safe Football, to raise awareness of CTE, which research has linked to being caused by repeated head impacts, and aims to highlight the links between football and dementia.

%image('17363525', type="article-full", alt="Bill Gates, third from left, goes up for header. A charity established by his wife is aiming to highlight the linlk between heading a football and brain injury")

"He was the first footballer, to the best of my knowledge, who knew of his illness in his lifetime," said Dr Gates, who added that her husband was determined to help protect future footballers.

"Head Safe Football is Bill's legacy," said Dr Gates. "But we want to celebrate and promote what a wonderful man he was.

"He was phenomenally successful in life, in football, accounting and creating a chain of sports stores and totally focussed on what he could bring to the world and how he could make it a better place.

"His chest would swell with pride that he was able to make a contribution."

Mr Gates agreed that his brain will be donated to Dr Willie Stewart, the Glasgow-based neurologist who is among the leaders of worldwide research into brain trauma among sports players.

His son, Nick, added: "He was so passionate about being a basis of change and using himself as an example.

"He lived a full life and had some amazing times, visiting 100-plus countries, and was just a really amazing man."

He said his father remained proud of his Ferryhill roots throughout his life, adding: "Although he's been to more than 100 countries and lived in places around the world, he was so proud to be from the North East. He was proud to be a Boro player, proud to be a Spennymoor player and proud to be from the North East."

%image('17363560', type="article-full", alt="Bill Gates standing in the street in Ferryhill, where he was born")

A statement from Middlesbrough Football Club highlighted Mr Gate's versatility as a player. He was used in eight different positions - from centre-back to centre-forward - though his best was at the heart of the defence.

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick said: "I think I can speak for everyone at the club when I say what sad news this is.

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"On behalf of myself, the players, the staff, and everyone connected with the club, our thoughts are with Bill's family and friends at this time." 

%image('17363563', type="article-full", alt="Bill Gates was best known as a central defender during his playing days with Middlesbrough")

Mr Gate's story has inspired a film produced by former Tyne Tees presenter Paul Frost titled The Billion Pound Game - so-called because that's how much it's going to cost to care for former players with football-related dementia over the next 30 years.

The documentary, which includes footage from the 'no headers' game at Spennymoor, will open the Tees Valley International Film Festival at Arc, Stockton, tomorrow (Wednesday, October 25) at 11am.

%image('17363687', type="article-full", alt="Bill Gates in Kigoma, Tanzania")

%image('17363691', type="article-full", alt="Bill and Juith Gates at the Taj Mahal in the mist")