Background
Coggins was born in Bristol playing local football with Victoria Albion and representing the Bristol Suburban League XI.
Coggins was born in Bristol playing local football with Victoria Albion and representing the Bristol Suburban League XI.
He joined Bristol Street George before Alex Raisbeck signed him for Bristol City in September 1925, then playing in the Football League Third Division South. He spent a further three seasons at Ashton Gate making 41 appearances in 1927-1928, 40 appearances in 1928-1929 and 26 appearances in 1929-1930 before losing his place to George Newlands. Bristol City only just avoided relegation finishing 20th in both 1928-1929 and 1929-1930.
Coggins joined in March 1930 for £2,000.
Coggins took over in goal from Ted Sagar for the rest of the season, but was unable to prevent being relegated from the First Division for the first time in the club"s history. Coggins retained his place for the 1930-1931 season as, fired by Dixie Dean"s goals, took the title by a margin of seven points over West Bromwich Albion.
Over Easter 1931, played Coggins" former team, Bristol City twice. dominated the first half but were unable to score from any of the chances they created, and it was Albion who broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second half. Albion captain Tommy Glidden played the ball into the penalty area from near the halfway line, and aided by a gust of wind it sailed past Coggins and into the Netto to put Albion into the final.
Following "s return to the top flight, Ted Sagar reclaimed the goalkeeper"s jersey, and Coggins only made three further appearances, his final first-team game coming on 10 February 1934.
Coggins had a trial at Queens Park Rangers in the 1935-1936 season, when he made six league appearances, before playing out his career back in the west country with Bath City in the Southern League. After retiring Billy Coggins became landlord of the "Rising Sun" public in Backwell, near Bristol, where he died in July 1958. Bristol City.