He is currently the head of North Academy Recruitment at Wolverhampton Wanderers Born in Salford, Lancashire, Ellis began his playing career in local and non-league football, with Horwich RMI and Northwich Victoria and Poets F.C.
Ellis was spotted by Preston North End manager John McGrath scoring goals for Oldham's reserve team.
However in two and a half years he scored 20 goals in 93 first-team appearances and was a regular scorer for the City reserve team that won the Central League division two titles in 1991-92.
His second spell at Preston was even more productive than his first: Ellis scored 56 goals in just 88 games and was named the club's official player of the year in 1992/93 and 1993/94.
In three and a half years at Bloomfield Road, Ellis scored 65 goals in 173 games, and was the leading goalscorer for each of his three seasons at the club.
He was released by Rochdale at the end of the 2000–01 season, and found himself without a club, with semi-retirement and a return to non-league football looking likely until Burnley boss Stan Ternent offered him a lifeline.
After leaving Burnley at the end of the 2001–02 season, Ellis joined Football Conference side Leigh RMI in August 2002.
[7] Ellis was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy Armfield in April 2006.