Fred signed for Birmingham as a promising youngster in 1939 as the war broke out. During the war he played as a guest for City, Northampton and Port Vale  and jumped at the chance to sign for his hometown club in 1945. Normally a left winger with a good turn of pace, Fred could not hold down a regular place with first Aldecoa and then Lockhart dominating the position. He left City in 1949 and had a brief spell at Newport County before concentrating on his cricket.  He was a solid opening batsman for Warwickshire from 1947-1961 and played in their 1951 County Championship team. He scored 1000 runs in ten successive seasons and later became a first-class umpire.