He made his league debut on 19 September 1896 in a 3–4 loss at Derby, but had to wait until the 1898–99 season to become a first choice player.
He was an ever-present for two successive seasons during 1899–1901, amassing 168 games for the club over a nine-year stay.
He then moved to neighbours West Bromwich Albion in November 1904 for a £500 transfer fee and in the same month made his debut against Manchester United in a Division Two match.
He died of peritonitis just two weeks after signing for the club, on 17 July 1910 aged 33.
(An obituary in the West Bromwich & Oldbury Chronicle, dated Friday 22 July 1910, suggests that Ted Pheasant had recently signed for Darlaston after being released by WBA.