Career
Born in Islington, London, Wingate joined Colchester United as an apprentice in 1970. He made his first-team debut and only Football League appearance on 18 March 1972 as an 88th-minute substitute for Brian Garvey, three days before his 17th birthday. With only two touches and two minutes playing time, Wingate is noted as having the shortest Colchester United first-team career.
The U"s would lose the match with Hartlepool United 3–2.
Wingate broke his leg in a reserve game with Southend United in March 1973, and then suffered a second break in the same place in August of the same year. Despite this, Wingate had been offered a professional contract and returned to action in January 1974, playing in reserve-team games and first-team friendlies.
He was released from the club in the summer of 1974.