Career
Club career
He was also in Crook"s 1959 FA Amateur Cup winning team in his first spell at the club He turned professional with Queen of the South in 1963, scoring 25 goals in 48 appearances in the Scottish Football League over the next two seasons. Coates later returned to non-League football with Scarborough, before joining village team Howden-le-Wear.
International career
Coates was called up to the Great Britain squad for the 1960 Summer Olympics, but did not make an appearance in the tournament.
He also represented the England amateur team three times, in 1960 v West Germany and Scotland whilst an Evenwood player and in 1962 v France following his return to Crook. His only goal came against Scotland.
Coates moved to Nelson, Lancashire and worked in insurance.