A right-winger or centre-forward, Arnold Coates started his career at his hometown team, Crook Town in 1957 and was a member of their team that won the FA Amateur Cup in 1959. He moved to Evenwood Town after the cup win and in 1960 won the first of his three amateur international caps for England against Germany at Dulwich. He was then called up to the Great Britain squad for the Olympic Games but did not play. He returned to Crook in 1961 and went on to win his second FA Amateur Cup winners’ medal the following year when he scored two goals in the 4-0 win over Hounslow Town in the replay at Middlesbrough. He then turned professional with Queen of the South and in two seasons in the Scottish League he scored 25 goals in 48 League games. He returned to England and finished his career at Scarborough and later worked in the insurance business. His brother was a well know north-east goalkeeper playing mostly with Whitley Bay.
Great Britain