Having played youth football for Sion Swifts, Moorfield Celtic and Townsend United, Patterson joined Rochdale in 2002 before having spells with Radcliffe Borough and Mossley.

In 2005, he joined the newly formed club FC United of Manchester, where he stayed until 2008 becoming their all-time top goalscorer in the process, scoring 99 times.

Turning professional in the 2002 close season, Patterson's first team debut came in October 2002 as an 86th-minute substitute for Gareth Griffiths as Rochdale lost 1–0 at home to Bury in the Football League Trophy.

[2] He made his league debut the following month, again as a substitute, this time in the 64th minute for Lee McEvilly, as Rochdale lost 2–0 away to Oxford United.

[citation needed] After much transfer speculation, Patterson signed for Bradford Park Avenue in July 2008,[6] along with his ex-FC United strike partner, Stuart Rudd.

Patterson was credited with a hat-trick during a pre-season tour game in Spain, but this later turned out to be a "wind-up" by club chairman Bob Blackburn.

[20] Having scored four goals in 18 league matches by January 2012, Patterson ended his loan spell with Linfield to join Derry City on a two-year contract.

[23][24] In January 2015, Patterson signed for NPL Western Australia club Cockburn City,[25] scoring 19 goals in 20 matches for the team.

[citation needed] In October 2015, seven years after leaving the club,[26] Patterson returned to FC United of Manchester, for whom he remains the second highest goalscorer with 99 goals in all official competitions.

A key motive behind the move was to link up with former Linfield teammate Michael Gault, who managed Ballymacash at the time of Patterson's signing.

Patterson departed the club one year later after 21 goals in 23 appearances, moving on to Ballymena & Provincial Football League side Belfast Celtic for the 2020–21 season.