McEwen started his playing career with Bootle, before moving south to join Luton Town.

McEwen then moved on to Bury, where he won the FA Cup in 1903, with a crushing 6–0 victory over Derby County.

After three years at Gigg Lane, he returned for a spell at Luton Town (now in the Southern League), before joining Norwich City, initially as a player, before taking on the role of manager.

[2] After Morrell's resignation in 1915, McEwen took charge of first-team affairs at the club during the remainder of World War I, becoming the de facto caretaker manager of the team, which played in the London Combination.

[2][3] After the war had ended he was replaced by Leslie Knighton for the start of the 1919–20 season, but McEwen continued to stay with the club, working as a dressing-room attendant[2] and as a coach under Herbert Chapman.