Marshall was born in Southampton and played rugby in his youth before converting to "soccer", joining the newly formed St. Mary's Football Club in 1888.
[2] He made his first competitive appearance for St. Mary's in 1891, helping the club to win the Hampshire Senior Cup, defeating a team from the Royal Engineers, Aldershot 3–1 at the County Ground.
[3] The following season, the "Saints" entered the FA Cup for the first time, being drawn away to Warmley (near Bristol) in the first qualifying round where they won comfortably 4–1, with Marshall playing at right-back.
[1] In each of the next two seasons, the Saints were defeated in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup, going down 4–0 to Maidenhead United at the Antelope Ground in October 1892 and 2–1 at Reading in November 1893.
[5] Marshall also played in all five matches in the FA Cup, where they reached the First round proper for the first time, going down 4–1 to Nottingham Forest of the First Division with two goals from Thomas Rose.