Ken first played for Bishop Auckland boys and Durham County Schools in 1930, progressing via Willington juniors to his Bishop's first team debut aged just 17. He went on to become an England Amateur International winger who won the Amateur Cup final with Bishop Auckland in 1939 (alongside Bob Paisley, whom he travelled in a taxi to games with and whose "This Is Your Life" he appeared on in 1977). At the time he was an apprentice welding engineer at Wilson's Forge in Bishop Auckland and he helped rebuild the Kingsway stand after it had been destroyed by fire

After the war he spent a spell as a professional with Spennymoor in the North Eastern League, but his "proper" job as a draughtsman brought him down south and he joined the Dons at the end of the 1946/47 season. He unfortunately suffered extensive injuries in a road accident soon after and made limited appearances after a prolonged recovery period.

Returning north he took over as coach at Billingham Synthonia, who finished runners-up to Bishop Auckland in the Northern League despite going the whole season without conceding a league goal at home.