[3] Over the next two seasons, Hough made only the occasional appearance, generally standing in for Alec Campbell at centre-half or Fred Titmuss at left-back.
[5] In 1926–27 he missed only one match as manager Arthur Chadwick settled on his favoured line-up with eleven players featuring in at least 35 of the 42 league games; this included a half back line-up of Bert Shelley, George Harkus and Stan Woodhouse, in front of full-backs Michael Keeping and Hough.
The semi-final was played at Stamford Bridge on 26 March 1927; after the Saints had an early penalty appeal turned down by the referee, Arsenal mounted a prolonged pressure on the Southampton goal, resulting in the opening score, when a cross-shot from Joe Hulme was deflected by Hough past Tommy Allen into the Saints' goal.
[8] He again started the 1928–29 season as Keeping's regular partner at the back, until injury forced him out at the end of October, to be replaced by Arthur Bradford for nine matches.
[10] With injuries now taking their toll, and Bradford establishing himself as his replacement, Hough only made three appearances and at the end of the season he was released.