Rivers played youth football for Middlesbrough. After he was released he began working in a factory but quit after only one day in order to concentrate on his football career. After spending time with Whitley Bay, Rivers spent the 2014-2015 season with Blyth Spartans, scoring 12 goals in 51 appearances.
Rivers combined his non-league football career with a part-time job working in his mother"s newsagents shop.
During his time with the club he won the Northumberland Senior Cup, and was voted the club"s Players" Player of the Year as well as the EvoStik Premier Division Young Player of the Season. After impressing in the FA Cup for Blyth, including scoring the winner in a second round victory against Hartlepool United, he went on trial with Oldham Athletic in January 2015. He was the 2014-2015 Evo-Stik Young Player of the Year, and signed a one-year professional contract with Blackpool in May 2015.
