[3] William Botto died in 1910,[4] and the 1911 Census shows the 12-year-old Lewis resident in the Chadwick Memorial Industrial School in Carlisle.
[2] He made his debut in the 1923–24 FA Cup first qualifying round match against Dipton United on 6 October, which Durham lost 1–0.
[9] In 1924–25, Botto was undisputed first choice in goal, ever-present in both league and FA Cup as Durham City finished in mid-table.
On application to the Football League, he was given a free transfer,[14] and in August he signed for Second Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers, whose backup goalkeeper Jack Hampton had left for Derby County.
[18][21] After a single appearance for Nelson in the Third Division North,[18] his contract was cancelled in December 1929[22] and he returned home to play North-Eastern League football for Jarrow.