Born in Elsecar, West Riding of Yorkshire, he played for several clubs in The Football League, including Notts County, Clapton Orient and Manchester United.
Born in Elsecar, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire, Pape began his football career with Wath Athletic, a club from the nearby town of Wath-upon-Dearne.
In December 1919, Pape was signed by Rotherham County, who had been elected to the Football League Second Division at the start of the season, and he made a goalscoring debut on 17 January 1920 in a 4–3 win over Coventry City.
They met up at Manchester Piccadilly station just after noon,[3] and Pape – who was a friend of the United captain Frank Barson,[4] and had relatives in nearby Bolton – quickly agreed terms.
[3] Pape was not only allowed to start the match in the colours of Manchester United, but he also scored the team's third goal in a 4–2 win over his previous employers,[5] as well as hitting the post with a header late in the game.