Birth Date: 02/09/1982
Birth Place: Easington
Birth Nation: England
Height: 185cm
Weight: 85Kg
Nationality: English
Position: Defender
A Sunderland fan as a youngster but signed for Manchester United's local School of Excellence when offered a place at the age of 11. Alan chose to leave the Sunderland youth set-up because United had just 16 players to Sunderland's 36 for the same number of coaches.
In December 2001 Tate was selected as one of the two prospect's Man Utd send to Royal Antwerp on loan. He returned to Manchester in May 2002.
The start of the 2002/3 season saw Alan on the bench for the Manchester United reserve team, though he did manage to establish himself as a regular for them after a few weeks.
Tate was offered a loan with Swansea, then rock bottom of the Football League, and decided to accept it for the experience. He played 27 times and helped the Swans avoid relegation by just one point as Exeter went down.
Alan returned to South Wales on loan for the 2004/5 season on a month's loan but rejoined Swansea on a permanent basis on the 6th February 2004 for free.
The 2005/6 season saw Alan Tate win the Swansea Player of the Year. Though he did get charged by the police after, along with fellow Swan Lee Trundle, holding a flag bearing obscenities referring to Cardiff City, after the club clinched the Football League Trophy in the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.
Tate was fined a week's wages, warned to his future conduct by the FAW (Football Association of Wales) and given an official police caution.
His season didn't improve as he missed the decisive fifth penalty in the League One Play off final, after the game went to penalties, giving promotion to Barnsley.
