He established himself as a regular first-team player, but he had spells of inconsistency that left him out of the side for large periods.

Eardley joined Burslem Port Vale in the summer of 1899, scoring on his debut on 10 February 1900 in a 1–1 draw with Luton Town at Dunstable Road.

[1] He played 37 league and cup games in 1903–04, scoring three goals.

He did not join another team in 1907 when the club suffered a financial meltdown and liquidation.

[1] Instead, he re-signed in December 1908 and went straight into the first team before he left for good in the summer of 1910.