[4] When selected to represent the Northumberland Association against the West Riding of Yorkshire in a Northern Counties Amateur Championship match that November, the local newspaper, the Morpeth Herald, mentioned that he had been "causing some flutterings lately among scouts of the Football League clubs.
"[5] He was not a regular first-teamer for Spartans, but was brought in to replace a cup-tied player in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round match against Walker Celtic.
[13] Mason moved into the Football League with Darlington in 1938: he had received various offers from "bigger" clubs, but wanted to retain his amateur status and his regular job as a schoolteacher in Newcastle.
[18] After a poor run of form in which Darlington took only one point from five matches, Mason made his first outing in the Football League, taking over the inside-right position as one of three changes for the visit of Hull City on 18 February 1939.
[19] The Hull Daily Mail dubbed it a "particularly meritorious" debut, albeit in a 1–0 loss, but thought the Darlington forward line "sadly lacking in guile".