John Cottam (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = John Cottam


fullname = John Edward Cottam
height = height|ft=5|in=10
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1950|6|5
cityofbirth = Worksop
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
currentclub = Retired
clubnumber =
position = Central Defender
youthyears = 1966–1968
youthclubs = Nottingham Forest
years = 1968–1976
1972
1973
1976–1979
1979–1982
1982–1984
1984–1985
1985–1988
clubs = Nottingham Forest
→ Mansfield Town (loan)
→ Lincoln City (loan)
Chesterfield
Chester
Scarborough
Burton Albion
Metropolitan Police
caps(goals) = 95 0 0(4)
2 000 (1)
1 000 (0)
120 0 (7)
120 0 (1)
84 0 0(5)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
managerclubs = Scarborough
Metropolitan Police
manageryears = 1982–1984
1995–1997
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

John Cottam (born June 5 1950, Worksop) was an English professional footballer who played as a defender. He played in The Football League for five clubs and later became a manager in non–league football.

Playing career

Cottam began his career with Nottingham Forest, who he signed professional forms with in April 1968. He made his debut in the 1970–71 season when the club were in The First Division. Apart from loan spells with Mansfield Town and Lincoln City, Cottam remained at Forest until August 1976, making nearly 100 league appearances in the process.

Cottam then moved on to Chesterfield, where he played regularly for three years in Division Three. In July 1979 he moved to divisional rivals Chester for £12,500, [Sumner (1997), p.94] making his debut in a Football League Cup tie against Walsall the following month. [Sumner (1997), p.94-95] In his first season he missed just one of Chester's 58 first-team gamesSumner (1997), stats section] and helped the Blues reach the FA Cup fifth round. [cite web|url= http://www.chester-city.co.uk/ipswich_v_chester_facup_1980.asp|title= Ipswich Town v Chester in the FA Cup| publisher=www.chester-city.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-21] He remained a regular for the next two years with Trevor Storton his regular defensive partner.

Ahead of the 1982–83 season, Cottam moved to Alliance Premier League side Scarborough as player–manager, taking Chester players David Burns and Brynley Jones with him. [Sumner (1997), p.98] His first season saw the club finish as runners–up in the Bob Lord Trophy, with the Seadogs going on to win the competition the following season."Player Memories", Chester City v. Scarborough matchday programme; 12/3/1994; p.24] However, Cottam was sacked in November 1984, shortly after an FA Cup defeat to Tow Law Town.

After a spell playing for Burton Albion, Cottam joined the Metropolitan Police force in July 1985, becoming a police sergeant. He began playing for the Metropolitan Police in the Isthmian League. He played for three years and then became coach at the start of the 1992–93 season. Cottam became club manager in 1995 for two years. [cite web|url= http://www.metpolicefc.co.uk/history_of_mpfc.htm |title=History of Metropolitan Police F.C. | publisher= metpolicefc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-21]

Honours

Scarborough

* Bob Lord Trophy: Winners 1983–84; runners-up 1982–83.

External links

* [http://www.nottinghamforest.premiumtv.co.uk/page/WhereNow/0,,10308~233794,00.html Nottingham Forest 'Where are they now' feature]
* [http://www.scarboroughfc.com/club/managers.php Scarborough FC managers list]

Bibliography

*cite book | first=Chas | last=Sumner| coauthors= | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City F.C. 1885-1997 | publisher=Yore Publications | location= | year=1997 | editor= | id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6

References