[1] He began his playing career in 1988, signing for Derby County on leaving school in the summer of 1988 and turning professional soon afterwards and playing for them during their relegation from the Football League First Division in 1991 and still being there when they returned to the top flight (now the FA Premier League) with promotion in 1996.
However, he lost his place at right-back to Jacob Laursen around this time, and in the autumn of 1996 he was sold to Wycombe Wanderers for £25,000 after a loan spell.
At Adams Park, he helped keep Wycombe in Division Two and remained with them for three seasons, playing 89 league games and scoring once.
[1] However, this was the end of his career as a professional player when still only aged 28, as he transferred to Northern Premier League side Burton Albion that summer.
He would remain at the Brewers for three seasons, helping them win the Northern Premier title in 2002, before finally retiring in 2003 after 89 games and seven goals for them.