Coggins Billy Image 1 Everton 1931

Description

Bristol born goalkeeper Billy Coggins started his football career with Victoria Albion in 1923, playing for Bristol St George in 1924 before joining hometown professional club Bristol City in 1925, making his Football League debut at Southend United on Boxing Day 1925, taking over the gloves at Ashton Gate from Frank Vallis, and being ever present as City won the Third Division (South) Championship in 1926-27.

He only missed 3 games in the Second Division for The Robins until after 177 appearances he was signed by First Division Everton for £2,000 in March 1930, making his Everton debut the next month taking over the gloves from Arthur Davies. He was ever present as Everton won the Second Division Championship in 1930-31, also playing in the FA Cup semi final where they narrowly lost 1-0 to eventual winners West Bromwich Albion in front of 75,000 spectators at Old Trafford, with the winner coming when Albion captain Tommy Glidden’s long ball into the Everton penalty area from near the halfway line, aided by a gust of wind, sailed past Coggins and into the net to put Albion into the Final.

Coggins lost his place to future England goalkeeper Ted Sagar at the start of the new season and only played 3 times in Sagar’s absence over the next four seasons before moving to Queen’s Park Rangers in the close season of 1935 after 56 appearances for The Toffees. He made 6 appearances for Rangers in the winter of 1935-36 before joining Southern League Bath City in 1936, and later played for non league Ashton & Blackwell before his eventual retirement.