Career
Cotton played for Nantwich, before joining Burslem Portuguese Vale in May 1901. Preferred to William Chadwick, he played 29 Second Division games in the 1901-1902 season. He played 32 league games in the 1902-1903 and 1903-1904 campaigns, and fended off competition from new signing Arthur Box to play 31 league games in the 1904-1905 season.
At this point he left the Athletic Ground and moved on to Crewe Alexandra.
With Stoke missing a reliable custodian in the 1908-1909 season, Cotton kept goal in two Birmingham & District League games, before being sacked from the Victoria Ground.
