[1] A right back, Wheelhouse began his career with Northern League clubs Bishop Auckland and Shildon Athletic before moving to the Football League to sign for Second Division club Grimsby Town in 1907.

[2] He was a regular with the Mariners for the next eight seasons and went on to captain the club, before leaving at the end of 1914–15.

[2] He returned to Blundell Park in 1916 to play in a wartime charity match.

He fought with the 17th (Service) Battalion of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) (more popularly known as the 1st Football Battalion) during the First World War and rose to the rank of lance corporal.

[2] He saw action at Delville Wood and Guillemont in July and August 1916.