 He made his first team debut in the 1980–81 season, and impressed enough so as to permanently succeeded Joe Corrigan in the City goal.Following mid-table finishes in the 1980–81 and 1981–82 seasons under manager John Bond, City were relegated out of the First Division in 1982–83 under new boss John Benson.Now under the stewardship of Billy McNeill, they finished fourth in the Second Division in 1983–84, missing out on promotion by a ten-point margin.