He remained at Bloomfield Road for the next 15 years, during one of the brightest periods in the club's history, and played twice at Wembley in the FA Cup final defeats of 1948 and 1951.

[3] Hayward began his career with Port Vale as an amateur in July 1934, signing professional forms two years later.

During the hostilities he guested for Stoke City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wrexham, Walsall, Birmingham and Luton Town[1] when he wasn't stationed with the Army in India.

He played in the 1948 FA Cup final at Wembley, which ended in a 4–2 defeat to Matt Busby's Manchester United.

Hayward missed out on Blackpool's third – this time successful – attempt at winning the FA Cup by twelve months.