hˌævɪŋ sˈaɪnd æz ɐ jˈuːθ wɪð lˈɪnfiːld ˈɛf.sˈiː. ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti sˈɛvən, hiː mˌeɪd hɪz fˈɜːsttˈiːm deɪbjˈuː mˈɪdweɪ θɹuː nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪɾi wˈʌn, fˈɪnɪʃɪŋ hɪz fˈɜːst sˈiːzən wɪð fˈoːɹtiːn ɡˈoʊlz ɪn ˈɔːl kˌɑːmpətˈɪʃənz, ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ ɐ bɹˈeɪs ɪnðə kˈaʊnti ˈæntɹɪm ʃˈiːld fˈaɪnəl ɐɡˈɛnst ɡlˈɛntoːɹən ˌɛfsˈiː fˈoːɹ wˈʌn.
Having signed as a youth with Linfield F.C. in 1977, he made his first-team debut midway through 1980–81, finishing his first season with 14 goals in all competitions, including a brace in the County Antrim Shield final against Glentoran FC (4–1).