he began working in an engineering factory, joining non-league stourbridge before moving to bedworth united. whilst at bedworth he attracted the attention of a number of league sides before ian greaves offered him a contract with mansfield town in march 1989. despite the fact that greaves was sacked within days the new manager george foster also wanted to sign him and he duly moved to mansfield for a fee of £8,000, making his league debut as a substitute on 11 march in a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of preston north end. he chose an apt time to score his first league for mansfield when at the end of the season he scored against local rivals chesterfield, the goal preserving mansfield's third division status and relegating chesterfield.