Matthew Bates signed for Norwich City on loan from Middlesbrough on 30th January 2008 until the end of the 2007/8 season

Bates is a product of the Middlesbrough youth system and first appeared for the club in 2004. He signed a four-and-a-half year deal in January 2005 just weeks after making his Premiership debut. Bates also made five appearances in Boro's run to the Uefa Cup final the following season and has made a total of 32 appearances for the Teesiders.

He has spent loan spells at Darlington and Ipswich, the latter causing contraversy when in November 2006, his challenge sent Luke Chadwick, on his City debut, careering into the advertising hoardings where he was left with a knee injury that took him out for much of the season. Ironically, Bates' second game for Ipswich saw him pick up a knee ligament injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. The 21-year-old made his first appearance since injury for the reserves last month. Boro manager Gareth Southgate said: “Matthew has coped well, but it's a long and lonely road no matter how much support you are given from the physio and the other players and staff.Now Matthew is training with no problems from the knee, and we are delighted for him. It will be like starting again for Matthew. But we know from what we have seen previously that he is a good young player, and we will give him time to get back to a good level. It's important that he makes a full recovery, but it's good to see him back to the point where he can play part of a game.”

Bates made his Norwich debut in the 1-0 win over Preston. This was followed by appearances in the 2-1 win at Cardiff and the 1-1 draw at Hull. However in the latter, he was substituted on 58minutes after injuring his knee. He returned to Boro' after a scan early on Wednesday confirmed “more than minor damage”. Glenn Roeder said “The young lad has been incredibly unlucky. The staff and the players all feel for him and we are keeping our fingers crossed that he makes a full recovery.

Following Boro's relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2008/9 season, Bates indicated his desire to stay in the premiership and has been linked with Wigan and Aston Villa

He left Boro at the end of the 2011/12 season, having made 104 league appearances for them

Bates joined Bristol City in November 2012. He was released by City on 8th May 2013. He made 13 appearances for the Robins

On 13th October 2013, he joined Bradford City on a three month deal. This was extended in January 2014 until the end of the season but he has since left the club having made 22 appearances.

Bates signed for Hartlepool on 24th June 2014

He made 34 appearances during the 2016/17 season but could not stop Hartlepool from being relegated on 6th May 2017 from League Two into the Conference, ending 96 years of League football

Bates was appointed interim manager in February 2018 when Craig Harrison left the club. He then guided them to Conference safety including a five match unbeaten won that saw him named Manager of the Month for March 2018. On 4th May 2018, Hartlepool announced that Bates was their new permanent manager. Former Sunderland academy boss Ged McNamee has been named first-team coach, while ex-Boro and Chelsea goalkeeper Ross Turnbull has been named goalkeeper coach. Both worked on a voluntary basis before Bates' appointment, and will work to the new manager and director of football Craig Hignett under the new structure.

Bates was sacked by Hartlepool on 28th November 2018 following a run of six defeats that left them in 13th place. A club statement said ""The club would like to place on record its thanks to Matthew for all his hard work and, in particular, the role he played in helping steer the team clear of danger during difficult circumstances last season,"

He joined Whitby Town as Assistant Manager in September 2022