 Whilst playing for the works team, he caught the eye of a scout from Southampton of the Football League Second Division, joining them as an amateur in 1949.He made his reserve team debut on 17 December 1949, displacing Len Stansbridge, and over the next year, he and Stansbridge vied for the role of second choice 'keeper behind Scottish international Ian Black.Black moved to Fulham in July 1950, with Northern Irish international Hugh Kelly joining the Saints in exchange.