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Ralph was the star player in the Burnley side, the crowd favourite beyond doubt, in the late sixties and early seventies. He arrived at Burnley as one of Jack Hixon’s lads in 1961 as a centre-forward. It is difficult to believe but it was in that position that he made his Burnley debut over the 1964 Christmas period whilst still only 18.
It was a one off appearance but by the time he got another call up later in the season he was now settling into his favoured left-wing role. In his third appearance he scored his first goal in a 2-0 win at Leicester. Willie Irvine got the other and Harry Thomson made his debut in goal, saving a penalty.
By the following season Ralph was a regular. He was an excellent crosser of the ball and had although short and stocky had fantastic pace. Gordon Harris had been the left-winger but he had to move to the inside-left role as Coates took the first team by storm.
Ralph was comfortable either on the wing or in midfield and in today’s football there is no doubt that he would be an outstanding left sided midfield player and England would be needing to look no further to fill that problem position.
He did play for England and for a Burnley player that was always a major achievement, our best players were often overlooked, as players from the so-called top clubs were preferred. He made his England debut in April 1970 but sadly there was to be only one more cap in the same month a year later just as he was about to leave the Turf.
Selected for Ramsey’s initial squad for the Mexico World Cup he was left out at the last minute when it was reduced from 28 to 22. He had been in outstanding form in warm up matches, had adapted better than most to the high altitude conditions, but Ramsey was known to have a dislike of wingers.
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He had made 216 league appearances for us and had scored 26 goals. His departure was greeted with sadness in Burnley but realisation that we just couldn’t keep him.
Some will say he never quite played as well for Tottenham as he did for Burnley but there is no doubt he had another great career with his second club. He doubled his tally of England caps and picked up winners medals in the UEFA Cup and the League Cup. In the League Cup he scored the winning goal against Norwich in the 1974 final.
His Spurs career ended in the same way as his Burnley career with a relegation and he then had a short spell with Orient. He played against us twice in the 1979/80 season. On the opening day of the season at Brisbane Road he scored both Orient goals in a 2-2 draw. In November in Brian Miller’s first home game in charge he helped Orient to a 2-1 win.
As he came out onto the pitch that night he received the most amazing of receptions from the Burnley crowd (yes Mr. Livesey we were doing it over 20 years ago). Tonight I suspect he will be warmly greeted by supporters on all four sides of the ground.
He is still here, there and every …. where Ralphy Coates, Ralphy Coates.