Spurdle began his career at Oldham Athletic in March 1948, having moved to Oldham from his native Guernsey during World War II to escape Nazi Germany's occupation of the Channel Islands. He served in the Royal Navy during the war. He scored five goals in 56 Third Division North appearances as Billy Wootton's "Latics" posted 11th and sixth-place finishes in the 1947–48 and 1948–49 campaigns.