During a professional career that lasted twelve years, he scored over 140 goals in the Football League in spells with Derby County, Coventry City and Mansfield Town.
[4] In August 1951, he joined First Division side Derby County and made his professional debut in the last match of the 1951–52 season against Chelsea at the age of 18.
[5] His breakthrough season came in 1955–56 when he scored fourteen goals for Derby as they finished second in the Third Division North behind Grimsby Town.
[6] The following year, Straw's brother offered him a bonus of half a crown for every goal he scored and ten shillings for every hat-trick.
[9] After arriving at the club, he was given the nickname "toffee" due to his penchant for chewing sweets.