[2] His football career started at Queen's Park before he was "called up" for his national service which was spent with the Royal Corps of Signals as a Physical Training instructor.
In April 1956, he guested for Southampton in a friendly match in which he impressed the "Saints" manager Ted Bates.
[2] In the summer of 1957, he was Ted Bates's only new signing for the start of the 1957–58 season, when he joined Southampton on a free transfer.
His first-team debut came in a Football League Third Division match at Chesterfield on 25 August 1958, when he played at left-half in a 3–3 draw.
[4] His debut was described as "sound" and part of a "strong defensive display" from which he emerged "with great credit".