My latest article on an ex-Claret and I thought ahead of a Burnley v Spurs game was as good a time as any

Ralph Coates

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/he-was-her ... -was-every

Great read…. Think I’ve got some dust in my eye…

Enjoyable read that - thxs

Thanks Tony, your article plus the interview with Ralph Coates are a brilliant read. Just love the iconic photo of Ralph sat on his backside covered in mud.

A lovely fella.

What a wonderful article. Ralph was my favourite and still the best player I have ever seen play for Burnley, and I am old enough to have seen many great players. The day he left us was really upsetting.
But what a player. I have a framed signed photo of Ralph in my office wall. I always thought we had a chance, whoever we played, if Ralph was in the side.

Great read Tony, Ive always thought about which player sale most affected me as a kid back then....have to say it was Ralph leaving us, everything seemed to change after that for me....cant tell you how proud I was to see him singing Back Home on TOTP.

Great article, CT. Like you so many fond memories of Ralph that you have referred to, especially sitting on the ball at Ewood Park on New Year's Day 1966. However, you also mentioned the 2-2 FA Cup draw at Stamford Bridge in January 1970. Chelsea were comfortable at 2-0, we got a goal back and Ralph took over. He sensed an opportunity for a late equaliser. He literally demands the ball from a colleague( might have been Brian O'Neil even) and from a deep position takes on the Chelsea defence before slipping Martin Dobson in for his goal. Simply inspiring. That's why we all loved Ralph Coates. Drive, skill, sheer heart and a leader. He'll always be a Claret to me.

Yes great memories of the legendary Ralphie Coates, I remember back in the day that my mum used to say she was in love with Ralph, she had a claret and blue teddy bear who she named Ralph, I still have that bear today. UTC and Ralphie forever!

Down the years, whilst gazing out over the hallowed Turf before kick-off, or at half-time, I've often thought... what if? What if Ralph was playing for us now? In my mind's eye, I can see him, left wing, right wing, inside left, centre midfield... truly, he was EVERYWHERE ! A magician when the ball was at his feet.

Ralph Coates always gave 100%, not only of his footballing skill, but of himself. He did wear his heart on his sleeve.

Remember when your school books were adorned with your favourite Pop Group, the name of your current girlfriend, or some oblique dig aimed at the History teacher? Mine were covered, back and front, with BFC and the name of Ralphie Coates.

I remember that Chelsea goal, one of the best I have seen at t'Turf, but Burnley 5 Leeds United 1 will always be "The Ralph Coates Show".

Thank you.

Gone, but never forgotten.

The crew i hung around with always called him Chunkie , anyone else hear that before ?

Brilliant article CT, one of your best and there's been some good ones. Yes it was inevitable that we'd sell RC after the 70/71 season, a season in which he single handedly tried to keep us in the top flight. For me the writing was on the wall with the sale of Brian O'Neil the season before. We'd gone from a team that should have won the league in the mid 60's to relegation fodder in 4 years. Just thinking of a front 5 of Morgan, Irvine, Lochead, Harris and Coates gives me goose bumps. Without a doubt the best team i've seen in all the years i've been watching the Clarets.

There was a story that Nicholson only signed him because he was his wife’s favourite player. I’d think Bill Nich was too much a football man to do that but if true his wife was a great judge of a player.
Thx CT, got some grit in me eye reading that. So many fabulous memories of him. My personal favourite being his winning goal against Champions to be Liverpool in 1966. Solo breakaway from our half,buried.

Tribesmen wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 26, 2021 11:05 am

The crew i hung around with always called him Chunkie , anyone else hear that before ?

We had this discussion on here a few weeks ago. I remember me and my mates calling him Chunky. Based on his stature I guess. A common shout as he ran with the ball and approached a defender “P*ss round him, Chunky”

Great article CT. When he came to Burnley he lodged on Morse St him and Len Kinsella used to have a kick about with me and my mates on the field where Brunshaw school is now.

Great read that CT, about one of our own real Greats.

Fabulous read Tony, thanks.
A wonderful footballer and a super guy
Have wonderful memories watching him in Claret and Blue.

LEGEND!

brilliant report on a brilliant player!

5 star!

I was too young to appreciate the title winning team but by the time the next 'generation' came along I was in my mid-teens.
And running the show were my all time favourite Clarets, Ralph Coates and Brian O'Neil.
A few everlasting memories from both players, O'Neil's late match winning thunderbolt of a goal against Manyoo after ploughing through the mud.
Ralph's stunner in the Chelsea cup replay (I swear he was out wide on the half way line when he released that exocet.
But one of my abiding memories is from a 5-1 victory over Spurs where from kick off the ball was promptly played out to Ralph on the left wing.
He seemingly ran through the full back as though he wasn't there and crossed early to the far post for Andy Lochhead to nod in after about 20 seconds.

Ralph was born on the same day as my 2nd eldest brother who sadly passed away in 2004.
It was quite emotional to read of Ralph's passing some year later.
A son of Burnley FC indeed, a wonderful footballer .

Juan Tanamera wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 26, 2021 12:50 pm

O'Neil's late match winning thunderbolt of a goal against Manyoo after ploughing through the mud. Ralph's stunner in the Chelsea cup replay (I swear he was out wide on the half way line when he released that exocet.

As I remember O'Neil's goal against Stepney, he hit it from just inside the Beehole End

Ralphie's strike against Chelsea was, likewise, far too far out to have any chance of hitting the back of the net.

Oh how the memory alters events

In reality, O'Neil hit his shot a couple of yards from the right touchline and a couple of yards into their half. Ralphie's goal was from 30 - 35 yards out.

Never saw Ralph Coates, but remember singing the same song about Brian Flynn

One of our finest wingers.

Bigvince wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 26, 2021 1:27 pm

Never saw Ralph Coates, but remember singing the same song about Brian Flynn

I remember singing ''duh duh duh dug big Vince big Vince ...''

Excellent article, Tony.

Was listening to Martin Chivers on the radio yesterday there's some kind of reunion going on and he paid respect to the members who are no longer with us and he said some lovely things about Ralph, he remembers Ralph scoring a goal from one of his legendary long throws, Ralph Coates was a player.

Even after fifty years I can still feel how I felt after reading in the newspapers about the sale of Ralph. In five years we had disposed of our team that finished third, save for John Angus, quite an achievement even for our board. Great article CT on one of the saddest days for many Clarets I'm sure. What a player he was.

Bigvince wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 26, 2021 1:27 pm

Never saw Ralph Coates, but remember singing the same song about Brian Flynn

Both of your generations were spoilt. I opened the link expecting Winston's White!

Fantastic article Tony and also the interview linked, thankyou

bobinho wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 26, 2021 8:49 am

Great read…. Think I’ve got some dust in my eye…

I think I share the same allergy, Bobinho.
Either that or the article was kept in a dusty drawer.


It also brought nemories of my mum back because she used to tell me I always had Ralph Coates as my favourite player, for many years.

I went to that Orient away game, but sadly remember little of it other than I recall Ralphy played for them.

Personally I prefer to remember the chant.

Oh Ralphy Coates
Is Wonderful
Oh Ralphy Coates is wonderful

Full of Health
Full of Go
Full of Vigour

Oh Ralphy Coates is wonderful.

Best player I've seen in a Burnley shirt.

Great memories of a great player. Passed away so young

I tested his eyes about 15 or so years ago, when I worked in Hertford, I was so excited, like when I was a child. He was my hero

Superb player - the sort who, whenever he had the ball, made you think something special would happen and the crowd noise would increase.

My Dad’s favourite ever player.

My mum lives in his old house. Sure we had a few of his things floating about in our loft.

Grew up supporting Burnley same as my Dad, but rarely got on to more than 2 or 3 games a season when I was small.
So I was just a fan of the team. Ralph was the first time I had a favourite player. I can still see his hair wafting behind him in my minds eye, and the volley from the edge of the box in a 3-2 win over West Ham one of my most memorable goals.

My favourite Ralph goal is the second in a 2-0 win over Liverpool in April 1966

After he was named in the first 1970 World Cup squad, the next home game all the Burnley team lined up both sides of the entrance tunnel and applauded as Ralphie made his entrance, as of course did the rest of the ground. We were so proud.

I missed an opportunity to meet him. Some time in the late 80s/early 90s I was working in Borehamwood as a groundsman and as I'm nosy thought I'd have a look at the grounds of a sports club near what was then The Thatched Barn off the A1. The people there let me look around and I must have mentioned Burnley and they told me Coates was some sort of manager there. He wasn't there at the time but call in again - 'I'm sure he'd love to meet you'. I never did.

Hipper wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 27, 2021 10:39 am

After he was named in the first 1970 World Cup squad, the next home game all the Burnley team lined up both sides of the entrance tunnel and applauded as Ralphie made his entrance, as of course did the rest of the ground. We were so proud.

The pic is on the linked article

I think the response to your great article Tony just shows what Burnley fans thought of Ralph.
What a player and what a man.