Billy Coggins
Encyclopedia
William Herbert "Billy" Coggins (16 September 1901–1958) was an English footballer who
played as a goalkeeper. He played for Everton
in the 1931 FA Cup semi-final.
and after playing local football, he joined Bristol City
in September 1925, then playing in the Football League Third Division South
. He was an ever-present member of the City side that won the division title in 1926–27, thus gaining promotion to the Second Division
. He spent a further three seasons at Ashton Gate before joining Everton
in March 1930.
Coggins took over in goal from Ted Sagar
for the rest of the season, but was unable to prevent Everton being relegated from the First Division
for the first time in the club's history.
Coggins retained his place for the 1930–31 season as, fired by Dixie Dean
's goals, Everton took the title by a margin of seven points over West Bromwich Albion
. Over Easter 1931, Everton played Coggins' former team, Bristol City twice. For the first match at Ashton Gate, Coggins was appointed captain, leading his side to a 1–0 victory, with the goal coming from Jimmy Stein
, but City won the return match at Goodison Park
3–1.
Coggins also featured in Everton's run to the 1931 FA Cup Semi-final which was played at Old Trafford
against West Bromwich Albion
on 14 March 1931. Everton 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 Everton penalty area from near the halfway line, and aided by a gust of wind it sailed past Coggins and into the net to put Albion into the final
.
Following Everton'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 1935–36 season, when he made six league appearances, before playing out his career back in the west country with Bath City
in the Southern League
.
Everton
played as a goalkeeper. He played for Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in the 1931 FA Cup semi-final.
Playing career
Coggins was born in BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and after playing local football, he joined Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in September 1925, then playing in the Football League Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
. He was an ever-present member of the City side that won the division title in 1926–27, thus gaining promotion to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. He spent a further three seasons at Ashton Gate before joining Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in March 1930.
Coggins took over in goal from Ted Sagar
Ted Sagar
Edward "Ted" Sagar played football for Everton and England.He was known as a fearless goalkeeper of great ability. He was quite light in an era when goalkeepers were barged into more often than today. He joined Everton as an apprentice in 1929 after playing for Thorne Colliery in Yorkshire and...
for the rest of the season, but was unable to prevent Everton being relegated from the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
for the first time in the club's history.
Coggins retained his place for the 1930–31 season as, fired by Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean
William Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football...
's goals, Everton took the title by a margin of seven points over West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. Over Easter 1931, Everton played Coggins' former team, Bristol City twice. For the first match at Ashton Gate, Coggins was appointed captain, leading his side to a 1–0 victory, with the goal coming from Jimmy Stein
Jimmy Stein
James "Jimmy" Stein was a Scottish professional association footballer who played as a winger. Stein was a model professional who had the distinction of scoring Everton's first-ever goal at Wembley when he netted in the 1933 FA Cup Final...
, but City won the return match at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
3–1.
Coggins also featured in Everton's run to the 1931 FA Cup Semi-final which was played at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 14 March 1931. Everton 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
Tommy Glidden
Thomas William Glidden was an English footballer who played at outside-right. He captained West Bromwich Albion to victory in the 1931 FA Cup Final, with the team also winning promotion to Division One in the same season....
played the ball into the Everton penalty area from near the halfway line, and aided by a gust of wind it sailed past Coggins and into the net to put Albion into the final
1931 FA Cup Final
The 1931 FA Cup Final was a football match between West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham, played on 25 April 1931 at the original Wembley Stadium in London. The showpiece event was the final match of the 1930–31 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge...
.
Following Everton's return to the top flight, Ted Sagar
Ted Sagar
Edward "Ted" Sagar played football for Everton and England.He was known as a fearless goalkeeper of great ability. He was quite light in an era when goalkeepers were barged into more often than today. He joined Everton as an apprentice in 1929 after playing for Thorne Colliery in Yorkshire and...
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
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in the 1935–36 season, when he made six league appearances, before playing out his career back in the west country with Bath City
Bath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
Honours
Bristol CityBristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
championship: 1926–27
Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
championship: 1930–31