Herbert Coates
Encyclopedia
Herbert James Leopold "Rigger" Coates (1901 – 25 October 1965) was an English amateur footballer who played as an inside forward
for Southampton
in the 1920s and 1930s.
in east London and joined the Royal Navy
, where he served on the Royal Yacht
"Victoria and Albert"
. He represented the Royal Navy at football at an amateur level, but in October 1927 he joined Southampton
of the Football League Second Division
.
on 27 October 1928, replacing the ageing Charlie Petrie
at inside-left. After six matches, in which he failed to score, he was replaced by Dick Rowley
. His duties on the Royal Yacht tended to restrict his appearances, but by the end of the season he had made 14 appearances, scoring seven goals (including one in each of his last five appearances), as the Saints finished fourth in the table, their highest League finish to date.
In the following season, he was a regular starter until early March, with Peter Dougall
generally filling in when Coates was not available; Coates made a total of 25 appearances during the season, with four goals. For the 1930–31 season, he was restricted to sixteen appearances, most of which came in a spell between late September and December in which he scored seven goals, including two in a 5–0 victory over Bury
on 13 December.
Coates made a total of eight appearances for the England
amateur international side, the last of which came against Scotland in 1931. He was described by one of his team-mates as:
For the 1931–32 season, Arthur Wilson had taken over from Dougall as the regular inside-left, but Coates did manage a run of seven games between September and November, plus three later appearances across the forward line. At the end of the season, both Dougall and Wilson had left the club and Coates hardly missed a match in 1932–33 (making 30 appearances) until April, when Tom Ruddy replaced him. In a league match at Bradford City
on 15 October 1932, Coates had to deputise in goal for Bert Scriven when he was injured. The "Football Echo" reported that "Coates was tucking his jersey into his shorts when Bradford scored immediately following the restart and before the amateur was ready" – this was the only goal of the game.
After a further four appearances early in the 1933–34 season, Coates moved to Leyton
who were then a top amateur side, playing in the Athenian League
.
area where he became the manager of a public house
in 1945. He later worked for the Southern Electricity Board.
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the 1920s and 1930s.
Royal Navy
Coates was born in West HamWest Ham
West Ham is in the London Borough of Newham in London, England. In the west it is a post-industrial neighbourhood abutting the site of the London Olympic Park and in the east it is mostly residential, consisting of Victorian terraced housing interspersed with higher density post-War social housing...
in east London and joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, where he served on the Royal Yacht
Royal Yacht
A royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head...
"Victoria and Albert"
HMY Victoria and Albert III
HMY Victoria and Albert III a Royal Yacht of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. The yacht was designed by the Chief Constructor of the Royal Navy Sir William White. She was launched in 1899 but was not ready for service until 1901...
. He represented the Royal Navy at football at an amateur level, but in October 1927 he joined Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
of the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
.
Southampton
He made his Southampton debut away to ChelseaChelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
on 27 October 1928, replacing the ageing Charlie Petrie
Charlie Petrie
Charles "Charlie" Petrie was an English professional footballer who played at inside-left for various clubs in the 1920s.-Football career:Petrie was born in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester and played as a youth for the nearby Openshaw F.C...
at inside-left. After six matches, in which he failed to score, he was replaced by Dick Rowley
Dick Rowley
Richard William Morris "Dick" Rowley was an Irish football Inside right who played for Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Preston North End, as well as representing the Irish national team.- Biography :...
. His duties on the Royal Yacht tended to restrict his appearances, but by the end of the season he had made 14 appearances, scoring seven goals (including one in each of his last five appearances), as the Saints finished fourth in the table, their highest League finish to date.
In the following season, he was a regular starter until early March, with Peter Dougall
Peter Dougall
Peter G. Dougall was a Scottish footballer who played at inside-left for various clubs in the 1920s and 1930s.-Football career:...
generally filling in when Coates was not available; Coates made a total of 25 appearances during the season, with four goals. For the 1930–31 season, he was restricted to sixteen appearances, most of which came in a spell between late September and December in which he scored seven goals, including two in a 5–0 victory over Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
on 13 December.
Coates made a total of eight appearances for the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
amateur international side, the last of which came against Scotland in 1931. He was described by one of his team-mates as:
"One of the finest inside lefts that ever wore an England Amateur jersey, and his clever dribbling, his brilliant anticipation and his terrific shots more than compensated for the fact that his play may have been a bit on the showy side."
For the 1931–32 season, Arthur Wilson had taken over from Dougall as the regular inside-left, but Coates did manage a run of seven games between September and November, plus three later appearances across the forward line. At the end of the season, both Dougall and Wilson had left the club and Coates hardly missed a match in 1932–33 (making 30 appearances) until April, when Tom Ruddy replaced him. In a league match at Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
on 15 October 1932, Coates had to deputise in goal for Bert Scriven when he was injured. The "Football Echo" reported that "Coates was tucking his jersey into his shorts when Bradford scored immediately following the restart and before the amateur was ready" – this was the only goal of the game.
After a further four appearances early in the 1933–34 season, Coates moved to Leyton
Leyton F.C.
Leyton Football Club are an English association football club based in Leyton, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. As of January 2011, they are not in a senior league, after withdrawing from the Isthmian League Division One North...
who were then a top amateur side, playing in the Athenian League
Athenian League
The Athenian League was an English amateur football league for clubs in and around London. The league was formed in 1912 with ten clubs, but had to close down in 1914 due to the onset of World War I. When it reformed in 1920, only three of the previous teams rejoined...
.
Later career
Coates continued to play for the Royal Navy until 1937. After the Second World War, he settled in the PortsmouthPortsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
area where he became the manager of a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in 1945. He later worked for the Southern Electricity Board.