The son of a Cumberland rugby player, Bolsover-born Alf played a few times for the second Town club as a guest during the Great War and was one of the Municipal team's first local signings, having come up through local Bolsover sides.  Two-footed, and a quick reader of the game, he formed accomplished partnerships with Jack Whitworth and Bill Dennis and came to be greatly respected for his intelligent, consistent play.

Alf, nearest the camera, in action at Fulham in the 1927 FA Cup

Alf did not begin to surrender possession of the right-back berth until age, injury and the emergence of the likes of George Beeson and Alec Betton conspired against him.  Cartilage injury dogged a length period of his playing career, while general fitness was not perhaps aided by his remaining semi-pro in oder to carry on the trade of a licensee. The club would have liked him to play full time but were happy to have the use of such a player on a semi-pro wage.  Alf ran pubs throughout much of his time at Chesterfield and was landlord of the Cock & Magpie, in Old Whittington, at the time of his retirement from football.  He later kept the Blue Bell, on Holywell Street, and a number of other pubs in Derbyshire.  Leeds United provided the opposition in his 1926 testimonial match. His brother Tom was on Chesterfield's books in the late 1920s.

For Chesterfield: 186 League appearances.