Elliott began his career in non-league football with Leatherhead and Epsom &amp; Ewell, before getting his first taste of professional football with Charlton Athletic. Unable to break into the Charlton first-team, he moved to Torquay United within a year. He then worked his way up the ladder, signing for Scunthorpe United in March 1992, moving on to Oxford United in November 1993, and finally getting his chance in the Premiership when he was signed by Leicester City in early 1997 for a transfer fee of £1.6 million. This remained the record for a sale by Oxford until 2016, when Kemar Roofe moved to Leeds United. He was cup-tied for their victory in the 1997 Football League Cup Final.