Bate spent his entire youth career with Chelsea but did not turn out for the first team before he left to join Leeds in 2021.
He was part of a crop of talent at Chelsea which included Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento, Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala, England international Levi Colwill and Swansea City’s Myles Peart-Harris.
Whereas his peers have gone on to play for some of Europe’s elite teams or made their full international debuts, Bate has plied his trade in England’s lower leagues.
“It is hard to not be impressed by a lot of the lads,” he said.
“Someone like Tino Livramento, he was one of my best mates growing up and we lived together. Seeing what he is doing now, playing week in, week out for a club like Newcastle, doesn’t surprise me and that says a lot about him really.
“Jamal Musiala at Bayern Munich doesn’t surprise me, Levi Colwill doesn’t surprise me, Myles Peart-Harris will get to the top again, he is a great athlete and footballer. These are all lads I grew up with from the age of nine.”
Bate made just five senior appearances at Leeds. He spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Oxford United in League One, and the latter half of last season on loan in League Two with MK Dons.
Having settled at Stockport, Bate is optimistic about his future.
“I have been asked in the past if I am jealous, but not at all,” he added.
“They are lads I’ve grown up with, they are great lads, so I hope to be back on the big stage with them someday.”
