Career
He played over 200 Football League games for Bristol City before a broken leg halted his City career. He later joined Bristol Rovers. Born in Bedminster in 1886, Cottle played locally for Dolphins in Bristol before Harry Thickett signed him in June 1905 to play professionally for Bristol City.
The following season 1906-1907 Cottle missed only one league match making 37 appearances as the "Robins" finished runners up in the First Division.
Cottle made 36 appearances in both 1907-1908 & 1908-1909 missing only 2 league matches in each First Division season. Cottle was ever present in 1909-1910 making 38 appearances.
He played in the opening 24 league games of 1910-1911 before sustaining a broken leg during a 0-4 defeat at Preston North End on 28 January 1911. Bristol City were relegated back to the Second Division at the end of the season and Cottle left the club in the summer of 1911.
There is no mention of Joe Cottle making any appearances for Bristol Rovers in the Southern League.
Cottle later joined Mid Rhondda with Bill Demmery the club managed by Archie Annan. Finally Cottle was a publican in Bedminster, Bristol and remained locally until his death in 1958. with Bristol City.
