The first full international to play for the Albion, Paddy was one of the stars of the club’s early years and played in every game of the first season, 1901-02. Born in Belfast, he began his senior career with Distillery and helped the club to an Irish double in 1895-96. He spent the following season in Scotland with Celtic, playing mainly a reserve role, but had the somewhat dubious honour of making the first team for a first-round Scottish Cup tie in which the famed Glasgow club were sensationally beaten 4-2 by non-League Arthurlie.
In May 1897, Paddy came south to join Second Division Woolwich Arsenal, and arrived in Sussex twelve months later, one of the first players to be recruited by the newly formed Brighton United club. The fleet-footed Irishman remained at the County Ground throughout United’s brief existence, appearing in 57 competitive matches, but returned to Belfast with Distillery when the club folded in the spring of 1900.
It was then that he won Irish caps against Scotland and Wales, and also represented the Irish League v. Scottish League during the 1900-01 season, but when the Albion were formed in the summer of 1901 he returned to Hove to play for the new club until his retirement in May 1904.
Paddy played 51 matches for the Seagulls between 1901 and 1904 scoring 1 goal.