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12 August 2025
 
 

Joe Cottle

Bristol City FC

 1 appearance, 0 goals

P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 4: A 0
100% successful
1909

captain: none
minutes played: 90

Timeline
  Joseph Richard Cottle
Birth Friday, 4 June 1886 at 40 Colston Street in Bedminster, Somerset
  registered in Bedminster July-September 1886
Baptism Tuesday, 14 September 1886 at St. Mary Redcliffe Mission Church, Bristol
 

According to the 1891 census, Joseph R. is the fourth of five children to John Richard and Laura Ann (née Morris). His father suffered fits and his mother was a tailoress. They lived in the cottage at the back of 47 Kings Street in Bedminster, Bristol.
His father died in early-1893
 

According to the 1901 census, Joseph R. was one of four children living with his widowed mother at 63 Essex Street, Bristol. He is now a General Labourer.
Marriage to Beatrice May Matthews, on Saturday, 29 September 1906 at St. John's Church in Bedminster, Somerset, living at 38 Chessel Street.
  registered in Bristol July-September 1906
Children Joe and Beat Cottle have three children together. Beatrice Amy (b.22 June 1910), Josephine Mary (b.27 September 1916), and Betty May (b.8 August 1920).
"BIRTHS  COTTLE.—June 22nd, at 56, Upton Road, Southville, the wife of Joe Cottle (née Matthews), a daughter." - Bristol Times and Mirror, Saturday, 25 June 1910.
 

According to the 1911 census, Joseph is a professional footballer, born in 'Ashton Gate', Bristol. He is married to Beatrice, and has one daughter, B. Amy. They live at 15 East Street in Bedminster, Bristol.
According to the Bristol's Lost Pubs, Joseph Cottle was the landlord of Leicester House in Mill Lane, Bedminster, between 1914 to 1939.
Josie's baptism on 27 October 1916 states they are living at 14 Mill Lane too.
"BIRTHS  COTTLE.—Sept. 27, at Leicester House, Mill Lane, Bedminster. To Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cottle (née Matthews), a daughter." - Western Daily Press, Saturday, 30 September 1916.
"BIRTHS  COTTLE.—August 8, at Leicester House, Mill Lane, Bedminster. To Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cottle, a daughter." - Western Daily Press, Saturday, 14 August 1920.
  According to the 1921 census, Joseph, a licensed victualler, is still married, and along with his three daughters, Amy, Josie and Betty, they live at Leicester House, 14 Mill Lane in Bedminster.
"DEATHS  COTTLE.—Feb. 16, at Leicester House, Mill Lane, Bedminster. Betty May, the darling baby of Beat and Joe Cottle, aged 18 months. A bitter loss." - Western Daily Press, Friday, 17 February 1922.
"DEATHS  COTTLE.—In loving memory of my dear wife, Beat, who fell asleep on August 1, after a long and painful illness. Sadly missed by Dad, Amy and Josie.
"COTTLE.—August 1, at Leicester House, Mill Lane, Beatrice, the beloved friend of mr and Mrrs H. F. Harris and family. Peace after pain." - Western Daily Press, Monday, 3 August 1936.
  His mother died in mid-1938.
According to the 1939 register, widower Joseph is a licensed victualler living at Leicester House, 14 Mill Lane, Bedminster, with his daughter, Josephine.
And again, according to the Bristol's Lost Pubs, Joseph Cottle was the landlord at the Exchange Hotel in East Street, Bristol, from 1941 to 1953.
"TRANSFER OF LICENCES  At the transfer session at Bristol Police Court yesterday the licensing justices agreed to the transfer of the following licenses:—Ale Houses: Exchange Hotel, East Street, Bedminster, from Hannah Jolley to Joseph Richard Cottle." - The Western Daily Press and Bristol Mirror, Tuesday, 27 May 1941 
Death Monday, 3 February 1958 in Snowdon Road Hospital, Bristol, Gloucestershire. Living at The Exchange Hotel, 41 East Street, Bristol.
aged 71 years 244 days registered in Bristol January-March 1958
Obituary
"Death of a great City full-back
"Mr. Joe Cottle (71), whose death at Snowdon Road Hospital, Fishponds, was announced today, was one of the last survivors of the 'golden age' of Bristol City F.C. As one of the finest full-backs ever to wear the City colours, he helped the Ashton Gate club gain promotion to Division I in season 1905-6, played for the club in the 1908-9 Cup Final and became the second City player to gain an international cap. Mr. Cottle, who was the licensee of the Exchange Hotel, East Street, Bedminster, had been in ill health for some time. Born in Bedminster he began his career with the Eclipse team and was only 12 when he joined the famous Dolphin team that became champions of all three division of the Bristol and District League, and won the Gloucestershire Minor Cup. He was then a left-half-back, but on joining Bristol City at the age of 17 he was converted to a left full-back. He was with the City from the 1903-4 season until 1910-11, making 25 first team appearances in his final season. He struck up a great partnership with right-back Archie Annan, and with Harry Cray in goal and Billy Wedlock at centre-half, provided an outstanding defence. He twice played in the North v. South international trial matches, gaining his cap—against Ireland—in 1909, playing in the same team as the City's other international star, Wedlock. After leaving football he became a licensee and had run a number of public-houses." - Bristol Evening Post, Tuesday, 4 February 1958
"Former England Player Dead
"Joe Cottle, Bristol City full-back in the early years of the century, has died in a Bristol hospital. He was 71. A contemporary in the Ashton Gate side of the famous Billy Wedlock, Cottle played once for England—against Ireland in 1909. He helped Bristol City gain promotion to Division 1 in 1905-6, and was in the side which lost to Manchester United in the 1909 Cup final."
 - The Coventry Evening Telegraph, Tuesday, 4 February 1958
Funeral February 1958, Arnos Vale Crematorium, Bath Road in Bristol
Probate "COTTLE Joseph Richard of Exchange Hotel 41 East Street Bristol died 3 February 1958 Probate Bristol 14 May to Aubrey Ellis Riley mechanical engineer £633 6s. 7d." [2025 equivalent: £12,916].
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Began his junior playing career in and around Bristol, namely Eclipse FC and Dolphin FC, of the Bristol & District League. Joined Bristol City FC in the 1904 close season. He broke his leg in his final league game, from which he unfortunately, never recovered. He, however, signed for rivals Bristol Rovers FC on 21 August 1911 on a free transfer. Joined his brother, George, at Weston FC in February 1913.
League honours
204 appearances		 Bristol City FC 1905-07 204 appearances
debut (division two): 30 September 1905 Bradford City AFC 1 Bristol City FC 2.
last: 28 January 1911 Preston North End FC 4 Bristol City FC 0.
Club honours Football League Division Two winners 1905-06 (33ᵃ); Division One runners-up 1906-07 (37ᵃ);
FA Cup runners-up 1908-09 (10ᵃ);
Individual honours None
Distinctions None
Height/Weight 5' 8", 10st. 0lbs [1909].
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of two who became the 336th players (336) to appear for England.
Position(s) Left-back
Only match No. 99, 13 February 1909, England 4 Ireland 0, a British Championship match at Horton Park Avenue, Horton Park, Bradford, aged 22 years 254 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1908-09;
Team honours British Championship winners 1908-09;
Individual honours The South (two appearances, January 1908-January 1909)
Distinctions None

Beyond England
Became a Bristol licensee, namely the Leicester House and then Exchange Hotel from May 1941, until his death. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.75/76.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
1 1 1 90 0 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 0 1 4 0 100 +1
His only match was in the British Championship and played at a home venue

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1908-09 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 0 1 4.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC All 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 0 1 4.00 0.00 100.0 +1

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 0 1 4.00 0.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 0 1 4 0 100 +1

Match History

 Club: Bristol City F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) F.A. International Select Committee - one full appearance (90 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 21 trial  
one appearance - The North vs. The South, 27 January 1908;

Age 22    
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 25 January 1909;

1 99 13 February 1909 - England 4 Ireland 0
Horton Park Avenue, Bradford		 BC HW   lb
 

one of two who became the 336th players (336) player to appear for England
the third Bristol City FC player to represent England

     

 
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