Born in Dennistoun, Glasgow,[5][6] Sharp trained to become a plumber while moving through the grades as a footballer, being signed by top division Partick Thistle as a teenager in 1939 after a short spell in Junior level with Shettleston.
[6][7][4] The outbreak of World War II soon intervened, and he continued to develop with the Jags in unofficial competitions throughout the conflict (having been rejected from the Royal Air Force on health grounds),[6] culminating in a Summer Cup win in June 1945.
[7][8] By now established in the creative inside left position but also adept playing at centre forward,[4] Sharp was an important member of the Partick Thistle team after regular competitions resumed in 1946.
[4][7] In December 1947, Sharp scored a goal after seven seconds had elapsed in a match against Queen of the South, which still stands as the quickest recorded in Scottish football.
He could be considered unfortunate to have played in the same position as Billy Steel who was an almost automatic choice in the period,[5][6] besides which there was a good selection of native talent across the country.