After battling for a first team place with Willie Brown, he began the following season as a first choice, missing only a handful of games before moving to Manchester City in March 1930.
He played 42 league games for the Maine Road side, appearing on the losing side in the 1933 FA Cup final, but was never a first team regular and moved to Charlton Athletic in June 1935 and qualified as an FA Coach, making only 15 appearances as Charlton rose through the divisions prior to the onset of World War Two.
He guested for Torquay United, Aldershot and Bristol City during the war, serving in the Army Physical Training Corps.
In August 1952, he was appointed manager of Isthmian League side Wycombe Wanderers and took them to third place at the end of this first season, their highest finishing position for 23 years.
The following season again saw Sutton challenging for the title, but they gained national prominence with a run in the FA Cup which ended with a 6–0 defeat at home to the reigning league champions Leeds United.