[2] He joined his boyhood club as a professional in August 1953, he made his debut at right-half in a 3–2 defeat by Bristol Rovers on 13 April 1957 at Vale Park.
[1] His teaching duties limited him to 13 appearances in 1957–58, though he did score his first senior goal on 8 March, in a 5–0 home win over Watford.
[1] An example of his teaching duties got in the way of his footballing career was on Monday, 8 September 1958, when he played in the 5–0 win by Hartlepool United at Victoria Park, arriving back the next morning just in time to start his first class at Hanley High School.
[1] However, he was limited to 21 games in 1962–63, after new boss Freddie Steele took charge of the club and led the Vale to within four points of promotion.
[1] He went on to feature in the Vale's Fourth Round goalless draw with Liverpool at Anfield in front of 52,327 supporters; the "Reds" won the replay 2–1.