 Born in Salford, Lancashire, England, Saunders began his career as an amateur with Hull City before moving to Liverpool when manager George Kay signed him in May 1948.His debut, which did not come for almost five years, was against Gateshead in the third round of the FA Cup on 10 January 1953.The match was one to forget, as Liverpool were humbled 1–0 in one of the biggest upsets in the team's history.