Spence scored his first goal in senior football in the 4–2 win against Hartlepools United at Seedhill on 5 November 1927, a match which also featured a hat-trick from centre forward Buchanan Sharp.
Spence scored his second goal for Nelson in the 1–5 home defeat to Ashington at the beginning of December, but was dropped for the following game, with Bill Ruffell being chosen to play at outside right against Wigan Borough.
Spence made only three further appearances during the remainder of the season, and played his last game for Nelson on 14 April 1928 as the team lost 1–5 to Ashington for the second time in the campaign.
Nelson finished bottom of the Third Division North in 1928 and although their application for re-election to the Football League was successful many of the playing staff, including Spence, left the club that summer.
Over the next four years, he played for a number of local teams in Burnley including B. Thornber's Sports, A. Cuerdale's Mill and Accrington Road Unity, before retiring from football in the mid-1930s.