After making his First Division debut in January 1939 he played three League games before the Second World War.
When the war ended, he continued with Brentford Wilkins was sold in February 1947 for a fee of £7,000 to Bradford Park Avenue.
In a career interrupted by the war, he played 83 league games and scored 19 goals for the four professional clubs.
He was coach three times at Hayes until sacked in January 1961, when the players complained of his over-rigorous training methods.
Another son, Stephen, was signed by Chelsea and made one appearance for Brentford, before playing for a number of non-League teams, including Dagenham and Hayes.