[1] Eccles started his professional rugby league career with Springfield Borough, signing from amateur club Leigh Miners in 1987.
[4] Eccles spent the 1991–92 season on loan at Rochdale Hornets, playing for the club in the 1991–92 Lancashire Cup final defeat against St Helens.
[5] Eccles was signed to Salford at the start of the 1994 season from Rochdale Hornets by the then head coach Garry Jack.
He went on to play a key role in the side that achieved Grand Final Success at Old Trafford in 1996, and was awarded the Tom Bergin Trophy for his man of the match performance.
Gregory's team made three Challenge Cup semi-final appearances but never quite stepped up to reach the Wembley Final, the most memorable being at Headingley Stadium against the Sheffield Eagles, with minutes to go Salford were in charge of the game, Gregory decided to replace Cliff Eccles and Andy Platt in the front row, this proved to be his tactical downfall as the Sheffield Eagles went on to score tries in the very gaps that the two strong front rowers had left in the defensive line.