Career
He was a Full Back The Manchester Guardian, when reporting on both 1912 matches, selected him as one of the better players on the pitch. Downs" career was broken by the first world war but he returned to Oakwell in 1919 and yet again proved an annoyance to West Bromwich Albion in 1920 when knocked them out of the F A cup. By now Downs was thirty-three years of age and his performances in the cup alerted the top flight clubs that he was still good enough to play at the highest level
Downs had rejected many offers to step up during his career in the hope of gaining promotion with but when Everton approached him after "s second round cup exit at the end of January 1920 he recognised it as his last chance and accepted a move to the First Division.
Downs was an ever present in his first full season at Goodison Park and went on to make ninety-two First Division appearances over five years but by 1923 he was finding it increasingly difficult to get into the first eleven and accepted an offer to step down into the third division with Brighton Downs" first season among the elite clubs was a success and brought him to the attention of the International selectors playing for England in a Home Championship game against Ireland on the 23 October 1920 at Roker Park.
