Longbottom signed for Jack Taylor's Queens Park Rangers from Methley United in 1954 and made his debut in a 3–0 defeat against Leyton Orient in March 1955.
He scored 18 goals in 1957–58 to become the club's top-scorer once again; another tenth-place finish ensured Rangers a place in the restructured Third Division the following season.
[1] He scored twice in 11 games in 1962–63, but new boss Freddie Steele sold him on to league rivals Millwall in January 1963 for a £2,000 fee.
Longbottom joined up with Fourth Division side Oxford United and finished as the club's top-scorer in the 1963–64 season with 14 goals in 34 games.
This tally included two goals in six games as Oxford became the first Fourth Division side to reach the sixth round of the FA Cup.
[3] The "U's" suffered relegation however, and manager Neil Franklin allowed Longbottom to leave Layer Road on a free transfer to Midland League club Scarborough in May 1965.