RIP Ralph Coates – Combover King, Burnley & Tottenham Great

Ollie Irish

17th, December 2010

4 Comments

By Ollie Irish

Sad news on this cold day: Ralph Coates, who played with huge distinction for Burnley and then Tottenham, has died following a stroke. He was 64.

Burnley chief executive Paul Fletcher, who once played with Coates, said: “He is still very much one of the sons of Burnley Football Club and someone who came through the revered youth system and went on to bigger and better things.

“He was revered here and it is a very sad day for everyone. He will be very sadly missed.”

Hear hear. Though I think it’s a shame that many headlines have failed to mention his Burnley career; he actually played more times for them than he did for the Lilywhites.