THE games David Bates was playing for Raith Rovers just a few short years ago often struggled to attract attendances of a couple of thousand people. It says much about how far the Scotland centre half has come since that he now finds himself taking part in training sessions in front of larger crowds.
Bates has flourished since moving to Hamburg from Rangers on a free transfer last summer and has every chance of retaining his place in the Scotland starting line-up for their opening Euro 2020 qualifier against Kazakhstan here in Nursultan this evening.
The prospect of playing in such an important fixture for his country in the futuristic Astana Arena is not one that is likely to faze a player who was outstanding in the Nations League wins over Albania and Israel last year and has been playing consistently well in Germany.
Hamburg may now be in the second tier after being relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in their history last year. But the backing they receive from their supporters and the pressure on the players to do well remain exactly the same. Not least in derby matches against their fierce city rivals St Pauli.
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“The day before the first game (a 0-0 draw at home to St Pauli in September) there were 2,000 fans at training ,” he said. “The fans love it over there and with it being a city rivalry it’s always good to get one over on them. We hadn’t beaten them in quite a long time (since 2001) so it was big for the fans.
“When I was 17 or 18 there would have been no chance of 2,000 fans at my games. It is crazy when you think about it, 2,000 ultras at training singing their hearts out. It makes the atmosphere, the fans over there are really tops.
“When I was at Raith we trained on the astro in The Michael Woods Centre in Glenrothes. We had just gone full time when I signed. It is some transformation from there to Hamburg. But if you work hard you never know what can happen. I’ve kept my head down, just kept plugging away, and I’ve got some benefits from it.”
Scotland, too, have reaped the rewards of having a defender playing overseas at such a decent level. The reception they receive from the Kazakhstan support in the 30,000-capacity stadium this evening is unlikely to faze him after his experiences with his club side in recent months.
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Bates sampled the dubious delights of the Old Firm match when he was a player in Glasgow. But the enmity that exists between Hamburg and St Pauli makes that fixture every bit as intense. The crowd trouble that flared in the Millerntor Stadium earlier this month puts the unrest which has blighted Scottish football this term in perspective.
“The derby experience was great and the atmosphere at St Pauli was tense, with the flares and fireworks going off,” he said. “It’s the first time in a football match I’ve had to go inside. We won 4-0 so it made my life a little easier at the back with the strikers doing so well.
“The referee had warned the fans twice before. The players from both teams went over to tell the fans on both sides to relax, but the supporters make the atmosphere when they’ve got the flares and the likes.
“It was different (to the Old Firm game) as there were only 29,000 at St Pauli. The European atmosphere is different - they’re always singing and the safe standing areas add to the occasion. But there are also similarities in the way the fans hate each other. There were Rangers fans in the Hamburg crowd so there is a connection there.”
Bates added: “The whole idea was to go over and play as much as I could and improve as a player and I’ve done that. Getting better as a footballer was key and I can see the benefits, even as a person, to take myself out of the comfort zone and open my eyes to the world. I’m enjoying myself so much and I go to training with a laugh and smile on my face. I’m enjoying my football so much”.
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“I always said I would be open to it if I had the chance and once I had the opportunity to go to Hamburg, such a big club in German football, it was a no brainer. I always was of the opinion I would go anywhere if it was right for me and this definitely has been.”
Bates looks set to partner Scott McKenna, the Aberdeen player who is fit to play despite the fact he has been nursing a thigh injury, in the heart of the Scotland backline this evening despite John Souttar of Hearts once again being available.
“I played the Nations League games and did well, but you have to keep playing well at club level and I feel that has happened and I’ve played well recently. You never know who is watching, the manager or assistant. You’ve got to keep playing well.
“It’s not easy, but you must be at the top of your game and if you got the nod you’ve got to play at your best to retain your place in the team, especially when there are so many good players sniffing around for a place in the team.”
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