[1] He and his seven brothers were educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, and five of them played first-class cricket in New Zealand.
He captained the Christ's College cricket team in 1880, scoring 252 runs at an average of 36, which was believed to be the best seasonal batting average by a player at the school to that time.
He was the only Canterbury batsman to play the bowling of Frank Cooke (who took 9 for 73) with any success, and was carried shoulder-high to the pavilion when the innings ended.
[4][5] Cotterill moved from Christchurch to Invercargill in 1892 in his work for the New Zealand Shipping Company.
[8] While in the position he also performed "with tact and ability" as chairman of the local Wharf Labourers' Dispute Committee.