[1] Stoke City's Scottish based scouts recommend him to manager Bob McGrory who signed him in the summer of 1935 and he made a number of appearances as cover for Frank Soo over the following two seasons.
Kirton's chance to claim his own place arrived when Soo moved to right half to fill in Arthur Turner's retirement in September 1938, playing in 38 matches in 1938–39.
[1] Kirton suffering from a broken ankle that restricted him to just one appearance in eighteen months handed in a transfer request in the summer of 1948, along with five other players.
[1] Kirton settled his differences with the club and following Neil Franklin's departure to Colombia he made team captain in August 1950 and missed just six matches in 1950–51 at just one, at the age of 36 in 1951–52.
Kirton continued to play football for Hinckley Athletic and worked at Downings Tileries and returned to Stoke-on-Trent to earn a living in the building trade.