John Coates

When this giant ‘keeper played against Doncaster Rovers on 21 August 1976 it was his first League match since 12 November 1966 when he made his only League appearance for Chester at Brentford. Indeed it was his first League game for Southport since 24 April 1965 – a club record gap of 4,137 days. When Albert Harris broke two toes in his left foot following an accident at work, Coates made his senior début in the Lancashire Senior Cup-tie with Blackpool and never made a mistake, keeping his place for the next four League games. Two slips against Lincoln City in atrocious conditions saw him back in the Reserves, only returning for the last game of the season. He played throughout 1965-66 without ever challenging Brian Reeves. He had a long career in non-League football, the highlight of which was his F.A. Trophy Cup Winners medal with Morecambe in 1974 when Dartford were defeated 2-1. Later problems with a sciatic nerve in the knee restricted his appearances, though he did return for a brief, third spell with Southport (all in different decades!) in the N.P.L. He has had a removal business in the town for a number of years.

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John Coates