 He attended Arsenal matches at Highbury with his father, and also went along to see reserve team matches.The family's poverty came to an end just as Marsh was beginning his professional football career – his father helped the landlord to fill out his weekly pool coupon, and the landlord had a massive win shortly before his death and left the house to Marsh's father in his will.He played alongside Ron "Chopper" Harris for Hackney Schools, and scored all three goals as Hackney won the schools national championship.