[1] Common played for South Hylton and Jarrow in North East England before joining Sunderland in 1900.

Sunderland finished Division One runners-up in 1900–01, after which Common transferred to Sheffield United in October 1901 for £325.

The deal also took United's reserve goalkeeper Albert Lewis in return for a new record fee of around £520.

After starting out at inside forward, he took on a more attacking role in his second season and was the club's top goalscorer with 17 goals in 1911–12, missing just two league games.

However, he didn't score a single goal in the first half of the Gunners' 1912–13 season, before he was sold to Preston North End in December 1912 for £250.