[5] He enlisted in the First AIF on 20 April 1916 and served overseas in France, returning to Australia in 1919.
[6] Anderson played for Mangoplah from 1919 to 1922, including their 1919 premiership,[8] then with Royal Stars in the 1923 Wagga United Football Association Grand Final that was won by the Federals, prior to playing with St. Kilda in 1924.
[9][10][11] In 1925, Anderson spent the season with Hume Weir FC in the Ovens & Murray Football League, with former Mangoplah & St. Kilda teammate Tim Archer, who was the coach of Hume Weir in 1925.,[12] Hume Weir lost the 1925 grand final to Wangaratta.
[17] Anderson subsequently transferred to the Hampden Football League to play with Warrnambool Football Club from 1934 to 1936, playing in the 1935 premiership and leading them into the 1936 grand final as captain / coach, that they lost to Mortlake.
Anderson then stayed in Warrnambool, working for the Shell Petrol Company.