 On his debut game, Vale lost 7–0 to Preston North End in a friendly.He soon became a regular though, and with eight strikes was top-scorer for the 1888–89 season, and in 1891 he helped the side share the North Staffordshire Charity Challenge Cup.He converted to a central defensive position in September 1892, and played there 11 times in the first ever season of the Football League Second Division.