Spurs legend Ralph Coates laid to rest

FANS, former players, and colleagues gathered on Wednesday to pay their last respects to Spurs footballer Ralph Coates as he was laid to rest.

A memorial service was held in Enfield in honour of the former winger, who helped Tottenham to win the UEFA Cup in 1972 – his first season at the club.

Mr Coates went on to endear himself to the White Hart Lane faithful the season after by scoring the winning goal in the League Cup final.

He died on December 17 at a hospital in Bedfordshire, aged 64, having suffered two strokes earlier in the month.

Former Spurs teammates Martin Peters, Alan Mullery, and Pat Jennings paid tribute to Mr Coates alongside his son Paul, and his granddaughter read a poem during the service.

A large contingent of fans and former players from Burnley travelled to Enfield for the memorial, representing the club Mr Coates played for between 1964 and 1971 before his £190,000 move to Spurs.

Veronica Simpson, secretary of the Burnley Former Players Association, who made the trip, said: “The church was packed to the rafters with a lot of his former team mates and supporters. It was a nice service and there were a lot of glowing tributes to Ralph.”

After the service, a wake took place at White Hart Lane, where Mr Coates had plied his trade as a player and worked behind the scenes later in life as an ambassador for the club.

R.I.P. RALPH.

RIP Ralph Coates