 He played for King Street Sports club in Aberdeen before joining Aston Villa in 1971, turning professional in September 1972.A Scottish youth international, he played in the 1972 Little World Cup when Frank Gray and Kenny Burns were among his contemporaries.After helping Villa to promotion to Division One in 1974-75 and picking up a 1975 League Cup Winners' medal, a £40,000 transfer took him to Coventry City.