 After serving in the Metropolitan Police during World War II, he resumed his playing career with Chelsea (making him one of only two players to play for Chelsea both before and after the War).He had the distinction of being Chelsea's oldest ever player, playing his final first-class match for the club against Bolton Wanderers in September 1947 at the age of 39 years, 57 days.Following that, he joined the Chelsea coaching staff, on which he remained for the next two decades, and was an important part in the new youth set-up at the club, helping to unearth such talents as Jimmy Greaves, Terry Venables and Bobby Tambling.