He was born and raised in Nelson, Lancashire and made two appearances in The Football League for his hometown club in the 1923–24 season.
Aside from football, he was also a keen athlete, and worked in several cotton mills in east Lancashire.
Nutter played amateur football for Barnoldswick Town before joining Nelson in February 1924.
He was originally planned only to have a trial for the reserve team at Nelson, but because regular goalkeeper Harry Abbott was injured, Nutter was selected for the Football League Second Division match away at South Shields on 9 February 1924.
Nelson lost 0–3, the final goal scored from a penalty kick after a foul by Nutter.