{{Short description|English footballer (1960–2019)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}} {{Use British English|date=April 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Russell Cotton | image = | fullname = Russell Andrew Cotton<ref name="coludata">{{cite web |title=Colchester United - Player profile |url=http://coludata.co.uk/player.asp?pid=383 |publisher=Coludata.co.uk |accessdate=11 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130504234534/http://coludata.co.uk/player.asp?pid=383 |archivedate=4 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1960|04|04}}<ref name="coludata"/> | birth_place = Wellington, England<ref name="coludata"/> | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Colchester United | years1 = 1977–1982 | clubs1 = Colchester United | caps1 = 37 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = | clubs2 = Chelmsford City | caps2 = | goals2 = | totalcaps = 37 | totalgoals = 1 | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2019|10|20|1960|04|04}} }} '''Russell Andrew Cotton''' (4 April 1960 - 20 October 2019) was an English footballer who played in the Football League as a midfielder for Colchester United.
==Career== Born in Wellington, Herefordshire, Cotton came through the youth ranks at Colchester United,<ref name="coludata"/> making his Football League debut against Port Vale on 24 April 1978 in a 3–0 victory, coming on as a substitute for Mick Packer.<ref name="debut">{{cite web |title=Colchester United - Match details - Port Vale 0–3 Colchester Utd |url=http://coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1768 |publisher=Coludata.co.uk |accessdate=11 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130504233042/http://coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1768 |archivedate=4 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He made 37 appearances for the U's between 1977 and 1982, scoring once,<ref name="NB">{{cite web |title=COLCHESTER UNITED:1950/51-1989/90 & 1992/93-2011/12 |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/colchester/colchester.html |publisher=Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database |accessdate=11 April 2013 }}</ref> the only goal of the game in a victory against Hull City on 17 March 1981 at Boothferry Park.<ref name="goal">{{cite web |title=Colchester United - Match details - Hull City 0–1 Colchester Utd |url=http://coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1922 |publisher=Coludata.co.uk |accessdate=11 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130505003112/http://coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1922 |archivedate=5 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> His final game for the club came just over one year after he scored that goal in a 1–1 home draw with Crewe Alexandra on 30 March 1982.<ref name="final game">{{cite web |title=Colchester United - Match details - Colchester Utd 1–1 Crewe Alexandra |url=http://coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1977 |publisher=Coludata.co.uk |accessdate=11 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130707045246/http://coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1977 |archivedate=7 July 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He appeared for Chelmsford City after leaving Colchester.<ref name="coludata"/> Currently living in New Zealand after playing for braintree town Essex and transferred to Christchurch United, South Island, New Zealand in 1985 Then transferred to Wellington City, North Island the following year
While in Wellington he played and coached for several local football clubs, including Waterside, Seatoun and Marist. With Marist AFC he later became their 1st team Men's coach.
In May 2019 the Wellington newspaper 'DomPost' ran an article in respect of his battle with cancer.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/capital-day/112485702/at-his-lowest-russell-cotton-found-hope-in-hospice-care--now-he-wants-to-give-back | title=At his lowest, Russell Cotton found hope in hospice care - now he wants to give back | date=15 May 2019 }}</ref>
In November 2019, it was reported on the Marist AFC Facebook Public Group page that Russell had died from his cancer on 20 October 2019 at the age of 59 years.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/groups/maristwellington/ {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cotton, Russell}} Category:1960 births Category:2019 deaths Category:Footballers from Herefordshire Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Colchester United F.C. players Category:Chelmsford City F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:20th-century English sportsmen