Born in England, he began his career as a youth player with Preston North End and briefly at non-league Fleetwood before moving to Australia.
Nicknamed "Noddy" for his heading ability, he made his international debut in 1969 and was instrumental in helping the side qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, the first time the nation had ever reached the finals tournament, where he featured in all three group matches.
His performances attracted attention from around Europe and he eventually signed for English First Division side Luton Town after turning down several offers from clubs in Germany.
He later received a lucrative offer to play in the North American Soccer League (NASL) to join the newly formed Tampa Bay Rowdies, where he spent two seasons before retiring after suffering a serious knee ligament injury.
He spent five years with Corrimal Rangers before being appointed manager of Port Kembla where he enjoyed considerable success, leading the club to 26 trophies between 1991 and 2004.
[4] His performances in the 1974 World Cup saw Alston receive offers from a number of clubs in Germany, including Hertha Berlin, Hamburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.
[10] The club had achieved promotion to the First Division, the highest tier in English football, the previous season and Alston decided to join the Hatters in order to help his wife settle and the lack of a language barrier.
[5] Cardiff City manager Jimmy Andrews paid £20,000 to take him to Ninian Park with the club also agreeing to pay Alston the wages owed to him by Luton.
[4] After his first season with Tampa, Alston returned to Australia to play for struggling Canberra City, who were managed by his former international teammate Johnny Warren as a guest player.
[17] He was initially told that he had suffered strained knee ligaments but after fourteen weeks with little progress he became concerned and hired a doctor in Harley Street in London.
[4] Alston was handed his debut for the Australian national team by head coach Joe Vlasits on 19 July 1969 in a 1–0 friendly victory over Greece, who were undertaking a tour of Australia, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
[4] He soon spent the majority of his earnings made during his football career and moved back to England to set up a hotel with his brother Alec in Blackpool.
[4] In 1984, he was appointed coach of Corrimal Rangers in the second division in Illawarra regional competition after being recommended by his former Wollongong assistant Terry Hurley.
Alston spent 13 seasons with Port Kembla; during that period the club won 26 trophies including five league titles, seven Grand Finals, and two Bert Bampton Cups.