Gosnell, an outside-left, played for Colchester based non-league teams The Albion and Colchester Town, before joining New Brompton. After playing in the Southern League for New Brompton, he moved on to Kent League outfit Chatham. He joined Newcastle United in 1904, and helped the "Magpies" to win the Football League First Division title in 1904–05. He also played in the 1905 FA Cup Final at Crystal Palace, which ended in a 2–0 defeat to Aston Villa following two goals from Harry Hampton. United finished fourth in the league in 1905–06, and again reached the final of the FA Cup. Gosnell again picked up a runners-up medal, following a 1–0 defeat to Everton after a goal from Alex Young. Newcastle again won the Football League title in 1906–07, finishing three points ahead of Bristol City. They dropped back to fourth in 1907–08, before finishing as champions again in 1908–09 with a seven-point lead over second-place Everton. Once more they could only manage a fourth-place finish in defence of their title, in the 1909–10 campaign, Gosnell's last at the club. They did though win the FA Cup for the first time in 1910 after beating Barnsley in a replay at Goodison Park; Gosnell did not feature though in either the original tie or the replay. In total, he made 106 appearances and scored 15 goals in six years at St James' Park. Gosnell then signed for Tottenham Hotspur, where he featured in seven matches in all competitions. He only had a brief spell at White Hart Lane, before he went on to play at Northern League club Darlington. In the summer of 1912 he signed with Port Vale, who at the time were plying their trade in the Central League. He appeared fairly regularly over the course of the 1912–13 season, though on 9 November, in a match at Liverpool Reserves, he was mistakenly sent off for kicking an opponent during a 1–0 defeat. He was a member of the side that took home the Birmingham Senior Cup in 1913, but left the club in the summer of that year.
Gosnell was Norwich City's seventh manager, replacing Charles O'Hagan in charge at The Nest in January 1921. The "Canaries" finished 15th in the Third Division South in 1921–22. They went on to finish 18th in 1922–23, 11th in 1923–24, 12th in 1924–25, and 16th in 1925–26. They regular reached the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, though exited at the First Round stage in his last season in charge. He was replaced as manager by former boss Bert Stansfield in early 1926.
Personal life
He was the youngest of nine children; his father was a harness maker and saddler. Outside of football he worked as an engine fitter, and was married to Margaret Helen Brownlow in Newcastle upon Tyne in December 1909. He had two sons, Albert and John Gosnell and one stepson, George Watson Brownlow.
Career statistics
Playing statistics
Source:
Managerial statistics
Honours
;Newcastle United
Football League First Division champion: 1904–05, 1906–07 & 1908–09