Europe needs to get real on defence; Britain needs to get real on Europe
13 February 2025
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5 January 2011
2 minute(s) read
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Coatesie was my first real hero. When he was dropped from the World Cup ’70 squad, I cried like a baby, though I was only 7. It is sad when your hero passes away
I read in one of the obituaries that he turned up for first day at Spurs in a claret suit … he was Burnley through and through. RIP
Nobody can say you don’t support your team properly. Great to hear Pat Jennings etc still thriving. I am a Spurs fan and was at the Wembley final where Ralph came off the bench to score the winner. Lovely man.
Burnley always had a fantastic academy in those days, I remember being told by my gym teacher who ran the school football that if you ever had the choice to sign schoolboy froms with Burnley, do it. He rated them above United, the bitters, Everton and the scousers.
Keith Newton, Martin Dobson, Ray Hankin, Dave (no shinpads) Thomas, Leighton James and Ralph Coates, all came from the academy, it’s a pity we can’t seem to produce home grown talent anymore.
it was an amazing day, Ralph was a true gent,
Steve Ives
Blimmin’ heck, Enfield is my home town. I would’ve made a trip up there if I’d known Alastair Campbell was visiting!
My favourite memory of Spurs and Burnley is a 7-0 win in 68/69! Met Pat Jennings once in the gents at Wembley and yes he did have really big hands !
Just seen your Ralph Coates piece. Being 56 the players you mention are very much of my teenage years – though I think Arthur Bellamy was a little before I was a teenager. I particularly remember a fondness for Frank Caspar which seemed to grow in direct proportion to the anger he engendered with some of my fellow supporters as he ploughed what I recall as an often lonely furrow at the head of our attack.
Equally your comments about Dads and sons struck home as my late father took me to the Turf as an 8 year old to see the likes of Lochhead, Morgan, Irvine, and the frightening ( even for a home fan ) Brian O’Neil!
All such memories mingled last week when I took my 7 year old twins from Nottingham to their first match at Turf Moor ( a carefully chosen game against Palace ). I wonder whether 50 years hence the names of Eagles ( Josh is obsessed by the man! ), Rodriguez and Wallace will evoke such fondness?
One never knows, I even retain a fondness for Harold Wilson – my first leader!!!
John Wilkinson