Ralph Coates (26 April 1946 – 17 December 2010) was an English professional footballer who played as a winger.

Coates played for Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Orient, making 480 appearances in the Football League.

He was an apprentice colliery fitter and his footballing ability was spotted by Burnley's North-East scout Jack Hixon.

[5] He made his first-team debut in December 1964, scoring his first goal in a 2–0 win against Leicester City in March 1965.

[5] Coates was married twice, first to Veronica Banks in 1968 (whom he subsequently divorced) and then to Lesley Clarkson in 1981 (from whom he had separated by the time of his death).