 He joined Burslem Port Vale in 1894.He was a solid performer for the club, however failed to turn up for one match after misreading a train timetable, and was fined five shillings for his trouble.In total he played 29 of the club's 30 Second Division games in the 1894–95 season, and scored his first goal in the Football League on 2 February, in a 2–1 defeat to Manchester City at the Athletic Ground.