Coates passed away peacefully on Friday morning following a stroke. He was 64. He was capped four times by England and scored the winning goal for Spurs in their 1973 League Cup final victory over Norwich. He started his career at Burnley and also played for Leyton Orient. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said: "He was just a great guy, one of life's nice fellas. He is still loved here. "I came across him in his Burnley days. "We have sent condolences to his family." Burnley also expressed their sadness at Coates' passing and offered deepest condolences to his family and friends. He first came to Turf Moor on trial in 1961 and after joining as an apprentice, stayed until moving to Spurs in 1971. He won the first two of his England caps while at Burnley and was named in the provisional squad for the 1970 World Cup. Clarets chief executive Paul Fletcher, a former team-mates of Coates, told the club's official website: "I played up front with Ralph when I first came to the club," said Fletcher. "He had just been in the World Cup squad and my defining memory of him would be turning up in the wonderful Ford Cortina Turbo all the players were given. "I can still see him getting out of the car and throwing his hair over his head, as he used to. "He kept in close contact with Burnley Football Club over the years and he was here earlier this season with his son." Fletcher added: "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. "I understand he has been working for Tottenham Hotspur for the past 20 years, but we all remember him with great fondness here in Burnley. "He was revered here and it is a very sad day for everyone. He will be very sadly missed." Former Burnley captain Martin Dobson, now director of youth development at Turf Moor, played alongside Coates for five years. He said: "I think the greatest compliment I can give Ralph is that he was a great guy. "He was immensely popular with the fans and in the dressing room and he always had a smile on his face. "What a player he was, and everybody warmed to him. "I was very fortunate when I arrived that Ralph had established himself in the side and his presence helped because of the feelgood factor. "You just knew the supporters were genuinely happy to see Ralph playing for Burnley Football Club and there's not many players who have that warmth and affection. "He was just a smashing guy and it's a sad, sad loss."
