 He joined Third Division North team York City for a fee of £100 in May 1947, combining mining with playing and training for the club.He was later rated as "perhaps the best bargain York City ever bought".He made his debut in a 2–2 home draw at Bootham Crescent with Wrexham on 27 May 1947 and finished the remainder of the 1946–47 season with three appearances.