Ralph Coates

[ClaretTony]

Just been chatting to a couple of friends who are Spurs fans and recalling that this wonderful footballer who represented both of our clubs passed away 13 years ago today aged just 64.




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

https://www.uptheclarets.com/an-intervi ... lph-coates

[Royboyclaret]

One of our very, very best was Ralphy.

So many memories, but when he sprinted half the length of the pitch to score against Liverpool in '66 is forever etched in the memory.

[ElectroClaret]

Legend is a word often casually used about footballers, but i say not in Ralph's case.

A true Clarets legend.

[Westleigh]

Looking at the lads who were clapping him out , there must have been at least 4 who were under 21 and they make our U21’s look like they’ve never kicked a football ( Koleosho ,Odebert ) and they’re the 2 best players we have.shows how bad the likes of Brownhill,Jay Rod,have become.

[South West Claret.]

One of our very, very best was Ralphy.

So many memories, but when he sprinted half the length of the pitch to score against Liverpool in '66 is forever etched in the memory.

Oh yes one of the best goals I have ever seen, with Tommy Smith on one side of him and big Ron Yeats on the other.

He some how managed to keep ploughing his way into one corner of the penalty area before beating Lawrence in the Liverpool goal.

Brilliant absolutely brilliant!

[beddie]

What a wonderful player he was. I couldn’t believe it was 13 years when I read it. Good bless you Ralphy.

[Clovius Boofus]

Did he live on Leamington at one time?

[Hipper]

I remember that guard of honour. If you look at the smiles on the player's (and everyone's actually) faces it shows how we all felt about his England call up at the time.

[Clovius Boofus]

Looking at the lads who were clapping him out , there must have been at least 4 who were under 21 and they make our U21’s look like they’ve never kicked a football ( Koleosho ,Odebert ) and they’re the 2 best players we have.shows how bad the likes of Brownhill,Jay Rod,have become.

Even on a thread like this one you have to have a go. Can you please give it a rest?

[IanMcL]

Gut wrenching reads.

Ralph Coates - he literally was here, there and everywhere. You had to see it to know it is true!

My first favourite player, which I had seen playing a lot, during his Burnley rise to England.

I remember a Charles Buchan's Football Montjly article where Bob Lord was quoted as "We order one size of shirt for the whole team and that size is Ralph Coates"

[Westleigh]

Even on a thread like this one you have to have a go. Can you please give it a rest?

What does one expect after dining on caviar and champagne at the top table seeing stars giving their all ,and having to watch dross whilst dining on beef burgers and flat beer?

[Westleigh]

Gut wrenching reads.

Ralph Coates - he literally was here, there and everywhere. You had to see it to know it is true!

My first favourite player, which I had seen playing a lot, during his Burnley rise to England.

I remember a Charles Buchan's Football Montjly article where Bob Lord was quoted as "We order one size of shirt for the whole team and that size is Ralph Coates"
[/quote
Not 100% sure but didn’t he start on the wing for the reserves,and then made his debut as a CF before reverting back to the wing?

[South West Claret.]

He certainty was a good un.

[Cirrus_Minor]

Easily the best player I have seen in Burnleys claret and blue. When he was given the ball their was excitement in the crowd and he rarely disappointed. Shed a tear or two when I heard he had been transferred.

[Claretnick]

What does one expect after dining on caviar and champagne at the top table seeing stars giving their all ,and having to watch dross whilst dining on beef burgers and flat beer?

Have great memories of watching Ralph Coates he was truly brilliant and one of my boyhood favourites, was really sad when we sold him to Spurs.

I can see Peter Mellor in the photo which reminds me that this group of players ended up being relegated from Division one that season after 25 consecutive seasons or thereabouts in the top division. It wasn't all caviar and champagne back then either....

[Royboyclaret]

I remember that guard of honour. If you look at the smiles on the player's (and everyone's actually) faces it shows how we all felt about his England call up at the time.

Perhaps we should be trying to put some names to those faces.

I'm thinking it must be the home game against West Brom in Dec.'70.

So, on the left......Mick Docherty, Alan West, Dave Thomas, Geoff Nulty, Brian O'Neil, Dave Merrington (in long coat).

Obviously the great man in centre.

Then, on the right.....? (sub No.13), Peter Mellor, Eric Probert, Steve Kindon & John Angus.

Other players involved that day (but clearly out of sight on the pic were Colin Waldron, Doug Collins and Dobbo.

[Royboyclaret]

Now I'm thinking the game might have earlier in 1970.

[Royboyclaret]

Now I'm thinking the game might have earlier in 1970.

Perhaps the home game against Stoke City in Mar.'70 ?

[Tricky Trevor]

1969 in college at Darlo with an army rucksack on my back. Painted on the lid in large letters “RALPH COATES” and it only ever got positive comments.
From starting as a winger to becoming a supreme midfielder he was a complete player.

[elwaclaret]

Still have soft spot for Orient on the back of being the only chance I had of possibly seeing Ralph play, my dad had said “he’s no Ralph Coates” so many times he became a superhero of football for me as a young kid.

[claret59]

Am I right in believing that he never wanted to leave Burnley but that he was just the latest in the 'sell to survive' a player a season?

[onewillieirvine]

I think it could well be the Stoke game on March ' 70, after Ralph had been selected for the provisional 26 man world cup squad. Amazingly he didn' t make the final cut.

[Westleigh]

Have great memories of watching Ralph Coates he was truly brilliant and one of my boyhood favourites, was really sad when we sold him to Spurs.

I can see Peter Mellor in the photo which reminds me that this group of players ended up being relegated from Division one that season after 25 consecutive seasons or thereabouts in the top division. It wasn't all caviar and champagne back then either....

There were players in that team who would run through a brick wall for the claret and blue shirt ,can’t see man in the present squad.

[Tricky Trevor]

There were players in that team who would run through a brick wall for the claret and blue shirt ,can’t see man in the present squad.

Will you grow up and dry up. It’s just boring now.

[AmbleClaret]

What does one expect after dining on caviar and champagne at the top table seeing stars giving their all ,and having to watch dross whilst dining on beef burgers and flat beer?

Pathetic. Only one week to go before school breaks up .

[northeastclaret]

Pathetic. Only one week to go before school breaks up .

Totally agree , nothing but pathetic and negative comments from him, except when we beat Sheffield United, all quiet, must have been crying his eyes out that night, so disappointed he couldn’t winge.

[Clive 1960]

Ralph never wanted to leave Burnley but we needed money and is family was from Burnley. I used to live next door to is Father in law rovers season ticket holder and he visited when he was up ..

[beeholeclaret]

Have great memories of watching Ralph Coates he was truly brilliant and one of my boyhood favourites, was really sad when we sold him to Spurs.

I can see Peter Mellor in the photo which reminds me that this group of players ended up being relegated from Division one that season after 25 consecutive seasons or thereabouts in the top division. It wasn't all caviar and champagne back then either....

Nick - I think relegation was the following season (1970-71)?

Serious pre-season injuries (just after Mexico Workd Cup) to Mellor, Dobson and another player (?) severely weakened our young squad. Tony Waiters was called into play as goalkeeper for that season and did well but was past his best by then.

As for Ralphy he was strong, skilful and an inspiration to his young team mates. Loved him.

[Quicknick]

Nick - I think relegation was the following season (1970-71)?

Serious pre-season injuries (just after Mexico Workd Cup) to Mellor, Dobson and another player (?) severely weakened our young squad. Tony Waiters was called into play as goalkeeper for that season and did well but was past his best by then.

As for Ralphy he was strong, skilful and an inspiration to his young team mates. Loved him.

Second to bottom in 1970-71 after four successive 14th finishes. 3rd in 1965-66.

[Quicknick]

Posted in error. See above.

[Hipper]

Perhaps we should be trying to put some names to those faces.

I'm thinking it must be the home game against West Brom in Dec.'70.

So, on the left......Mick Docherty, Alan West, Dave Thomas, Geoff Nulty, Brian O'Neil, Dave Merrington (in long coat).

Obviously the great man in centre.

Then, on the right.....? (sub No.13), Peter Mellor, Eric Probert, Steve Kindon & John Angus.

Other players involved that day (but clearly out of sight on the pic were Colin Waldron, Doug Collins and Dobbo.

According to sources I've seen it was the Stoke game, 27th March 1970. This site gives the team:

https://www.worldfootball.net/report/pr ... toke-city/

Based on this I would say your Nulty could be Ternent. And 'Angus' - the back of the head after Kindon - looks like the hair of Dobson. O'Neil, by his attire, was probably sub and the player to Mellor's left, Probert.

I always thought it was to mark his call up to the Mexico squad but the caption usually says 'on his first England call up' which seems to have been a game against Northern Ireland (which was played after the World Cup Squad announcement).

http://englandfootballonline.com/TeamPl ... atesR.html

Go to the bottom of the page.

Stoke home was 27th March, two days after the call up.

[Royboyclaret]

Oh yes one of the best goals I have ever seen, with Tommy Smith on one side of him and big Ron Yeats on the other.

He some how managed to keep ploughing his way into one corner of the penalty area before beating Lawrence in the Liverpool goal.

Brilliant absolutely brilliant!

Tommy Lawrence was left in no-mans land.

Ralph spoke so many times on his return to Burnley that this was probably the best goal he ever scored.........and yet he accepted this was not even the best goal of this game........Willie Irvine scored the most incredible header from the very edge of the box.

I think Willie had scored in every previous 6 games (some 9 goals) and the response of Ralph speaks volumes for the humility of the man.

[Claretitus]

Did he live on Leamington at one time?

He definitely lived on Herschel Avenue, in Ightenhill, just round the corner from the tennis courts. We used to see him in his Ford Cortina that all Mexico 1970 World Cup squad members got.

[Clovius Boofus]

He definitely lived on Herschel Avenue, in Ightenhill, just round the corner from the tennis courts. We used to see him in his Ford Cortina that all Mexico 1970 World Cup squad members got.

Cheers. It's just that I remember, from when I was a small child, someone saying he lived there at one time.

[IanMcL]

Cheers. It's just that I remember, from when I was a small child, someone saying he lived there at one time.

He lived here, he lived there, he lived every f where!

[Chobulous]

He definitely lived on Herschel Avenue, in Ightenhill, just round the corner from the tennis courts. We used to see him in his Ford Cortina that all Mexico 1970 World Cup squad members got.

He lived at 17 Gordon Street in Stoneyholme when he first came to Burnley in the 60s, lodging with Mrs Pollard, who also ran a poodle parlour from the same premises.

[ClaretTony]

He lived at 17 Gordon Street in Stoneyholme when he first came to Burnley in the 60s, lodging with Mrs Pollard, who also ran a poodle parlour from the same premises.

Then he lived with Mrs Cooney in Tod Road area