 He guested for Torquay United, Aldershot and Bristol City during the war, serving in the Army Physical Training Corps.Later during the war he qualified as a masseur (at the Bristol College of Physiotherapy) and joined Southampton as a physio.In June 1946 he was appointed assistant manager of Southampton and in August 1949, after Bill Dodgin left for Fulham, he was appointed manager, almost taking them to promotion from Division Two in his first season in charge.