While born in Scotland, spending his infancy living in Wishaw, Lanarkshire,[5] McAuley's family emigrated to Canada, and he grew up in Montreal, Quebec.

[7] In 1925, McAuley moved to the United States and signed with the Providence Clamdiggers of the American Soccer League.

[3] He made his debut on 13 September of that year, but then returned to Canada and played for Bluebonnets when they won the Quebec Cup at the end of that month.

[8] He came back to Rangers and played in two more matches at the end of that 1930–31 season[9] (in which they won the Scottish title) and played regularly in the next, 48 matches[10] including wins in the Glasgow Cup final[11] and in the 1932 Scottish Cup Final, beating Kilmarnock after a replay.

[3] He spent over four years with the West London club before moving to Cardiff City in December 1936 for half a season.