[2] Troops was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire,[1] and began his football career with Barnsley.
He played three games in the Second Division for Barnsley, scoring once, before joining Lincoln City in 1949.
[1] He played at outside right for his first few seasons with Lincoln, and was ever-present in both 1950–51 and 1951–52, when he contributed to the club's Third Division North title.
He left the club in 1958, having scored 35 goals from 310 games in all senior competitions,[1] a total which at the time placed him sixth in Lincoln's all-time appearances list.
[4] Troops finished his career with two seasons at Carlisle United, whom he joined for a £2,000 fee.