After starting his career in local football with Portsmouth Rovers, he had spells with Burnley and Lancaster Town in the late 1920s.
Dawson played 10 matches in the Football League Third Division North for Nelson in the 1930–31 season.
He was signed by Football League First Division side Burnley on amateur terms in August 1928 and was offered a professional contract a month later.
Dawson played 15 Central League matches for the reserves, but failed to break into the first team and was released by the club at the end of the 1928–29 season without having made a senior appearance.
In September 1930, Dawson joined Nelson of the Football League Third Division North on a free transfer.