Wartime service restricted his appearances to 43 games and 14 goals, until the 1947–48 season, when he was demobbed and became Gateshead's regular centre forward. He played at Redheugh Park in the heyday of Gateshead's FA Cup runs, notably in 1952 and 1953 when they reached the fourth and sixth rounds, but was missing through injury for the game against Bolton Wanderers in 1953 when Gateshead lost only to a disputed Nat Lofthouse goal. Bolton went on to play at Wembley in the famous Matthews final.