He joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from Stapenhill in August 1948 as understudy to Bert Williams, and made his first-team debut on 18 April 1949 in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield United in the First Division.

[2] While a National Serviceman in 1950, Sims played for the Army in a representative match against an Irish Football Association XI.

[3] During his eight seasons at Wolves he only made 39 appearances[4] before transferring to Midlands rivals Aston Villa in March 1956.

He was on the winning side in the 1957 FA Cup final, in which Villa beat Manchester United 2–1,[6] followed three years later by a Second Division winners' medal.

[7] He played representative matches for the Football League,[8] and in 1958, was the first winner of Aston Villa supporters' "Terrace Trophy".