[2][3] By trade he was an iron worker, as his father had been, but was employed as a professional at Northampton Cricket Club between 1860 and 1865 before moving to New Brompton in Chatham, Kent.
[6] Potter was described in his Wisden obituary as being a "fair batsman and a useful right-hand medium-paced bowler".
[7] During 1873 Potter moved to Prince's Cricket Ground in London before he was employed at The Oval, playing 35 first-class matches for Surrey between 1875 and 1881.
[3] He had scored his only county cricket century the previous year, making 105 runs against Somerset in a match which did not have first-class status.
In retirement he ran The Cricketers' Arms in Northampton and established a financially unsuccessful iron foundry in the town.