Alex Cottier
# Alex Cottier

Alexandra "Alex" Cottier-Small (née Cottier) (born 6 December 1973) is an English former international footballer. As well as the England women's national football team, Cottier-Small played FA Women's Premier League football for clubs including Croydon and Arsenal.

## Club career

Croydon player–manager Deborah Bampton signed Cottier-Small and Donna Smith from Brighton in 1994. A versatile left–sided player, Cottier-Small performed as a striker, winger and defender in Croydon's League and Cup double winning team in 1996.

In 2001–02 Cottier-Small was on the books of Arsenal Ladies. She rejoined Southampton during the season.

In November 2003 Cottier-Small quit relegated Southampton to sign for Bristol Rovers. Rovers manager Tony Ricketts said of Cottier-Small: "Her experience of top flight football will be invaluable to us, as will the fact that she can play either in centre midfield or at centre half – those are two areas where we've been vulnerable since the start of the season."

Cottier-Small signed for Andover New Street Ladies in summer 2008.

## International career

Cottier-Small represented England at senior level. She was called–up for the first time in March 1994, for a European Championship qualifier versus Belgium at the City Ground. Arsenal left–back Michelle Curley had withdrawn from the squad after she dislocated her knee in an FA Women's Cup tie. At the time Cottier-Small's manager at Southern Division Brighton, Julie Hemsley, was also England coach Ted Copeland's assistant.

She was allotted 107 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.

## Personal life

Cottier-Small served in the British Army and played football for their representative team.

