Irons' playing career spanned 26 years as a central defender or midfielder for a host of clubs, most notably for Ayr United, Clydebank, Dunfermline Athletic and Partick Thistle.

After only one year of the Harkness Era at Palmerston Park and a total of four first team appearances, Irons moved into Scottish Junior football, joining Kello Rovers, where he played for four seasons.

Irons scored the opening goal for the Pars in the match which confirmed Queen of the South's relegation to the Second Division in May 1989.

The opposition club was Rangers, in a game that ended in a 2–2 draw, to mark Queens' 75th anniversary and the opening of the new East Stand.

[5] Gretna then won promotion to the Premier League on 28 April 2007, after a 3–2 win at Dingwall versus Ross County.

[6] This victory clinched the First Division Championship for the Black and Whites as they finished one point ahead of one of Irons' former club's, St Johnstone.

Irons also achieved a win versus Hibs at Easter Road in the Scottish League Cup that same season.

[11] After being sacked by Greenock Morton, Irons was appointed the player-coach of South of Scotland League club Threave Rovers from Castle Douglas.

[16] Following his resignation of the Stirlingshire club, Irons joined Police Scotland and was also working part-time as a scout for Carlisle United.

[18] Following a poor start to the 2013–14 season, Irons was appointed caretaker-manager of the Cumbrians after the departure of Abbott, alongside Graham Kavanagh and Tony Caig.