The outbreak of World War II halted his football career, as he joined the army in 1940 and became a physical training instructor.
With the resumption of league football, Hancocks was signed by First Division side Wolverhampton Wanderers on 11 May 1946 for £4,000, making his debut on 31 August 1946 in a 6-1 thrashing of Arsenal.
Although international acclaim eluded him, Hancocks enjoyed success at club level as his goals helped fire Wolves to their first league title in 1953–54.
He also collected an FA Cup winners medal in 1949, playing in the 3-1 final win over Leicester City, and later scored in the subsequent Charity Shield draw with Portsmouth.
In total, Hancocks scored 168 goals for Wolves in 378 appearances, making him the fourth highest goalscorer in the club's history.