Charles Cotton played for Reading before joining West Ham United along with Tommy Allison in 1903. Cotton played in West Ham's first eight games in the 1903-04 season. He lost his place to Fred Griffiths who had been purchased from Tottenham Hotspur. Later he was understudy to Matt Kingsley and George Kitchen. In 1906 he moved to Liverpool. He also played for Southend United. Charles Cotton developed Bright's disease and died aged 28 in January, 1910.