 Battersby started his career at Sheffield United, later moving to Notts County, Bury and Lincoln City, before dropping into non-League football.In the summer of 1995 Battersby joined Finnish second division club BK-IFK on loan, scoring 24 goals in just 16 appearances for the Vasa club.He attracted the attention of the Premier League-team VPS Vaasa with his performances with the city rivals BK-IFK, but no deal was ever to be as Battersby returned to Sheffield United in the autumn.