Ralph Coates

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Coates was born in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham. He was an apprentice colliery fitter and his footballing ability was spotted by Burnley's North-East scout Jack Hixon. He joined Burnley on trial in 1961, turned professional in 1963, and made his first-team debut in December 1964. After Burnley's relegation in 1971, he was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for £190,000. He played over 300 games for Tottenham and won the 1971–72 UEFA Cup and the 1972–73 Football League Cup, scoring the winning goal in the latter final. He left Tottenham in 1978, played briefly for St George in Australia, then returned to play for Orient, where he also served on the coaching staff. He retired from professional football in 1982 and later played non-league football for Hertford Heath, Ware and Nazeing.

In Their Own Story

Ralph Coates, the winger signed from Burnley for £190,000, found himself in the right place at the right time. With the match hanging in the balance, he struck the ball into the net, scoring the winning goal that secured the trophy for Tottenham Hotspur. It was the kind of moment that defines a career—a single, decisive action that etches a player's name into club history. For Coates, who had already earned a winner's medal in the 1971–72 UEFA Cup, this goal was the crowning achievement of his time at White Hart Lane. He had played over 300 games for the club, but it was this one goal that fans would remember most.

Reader's Guide

Coates played as a winger. He made 261 appearances for Burnley in all competitions, scoring 32 goals. For Tottenham, he played over 300 games. He made 84 appearances for Orient in all competitions, scoring 12 goals. He played eight times for England U-23 and four times for the senior England team. He was in the initial squad for the 1970 World Cup but was not selected for the final squad.

Did You Know?

• Coates scored the winning goal in the 1972–73 Football League Cup final.
• He was married twice, first to Veronica Banks in 1968 and then to Lesley Clarkson in 1981.
• After football, he became a travel agent and later managed leisure centres in Chelmsford and Boreham Wood.
• He worked as a match-day host for Tottenham Hotspur for over 20 years.
• He died on 17 December 2010 at Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust aged 64.