Bates (pictured) was match official earlier this season when the Blades recorded a 1-0 victory at Millwall and last Wednesday was stuck in the middle of the East Midlands Derby at the City Ground where Nottingham Forest entertained Derby County.
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.
During his time as a professional referee he has been in charge of sixteen matches involving the Blades; his previous involvements are listed below;
- 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
Referee: A. Bates
Assistants: D. Bond & N. Smith
Fourth Official: K. Lawson