Career
A full-back, he played 12 games in the Football League for Portuguese Vale in a seven-year career at the club from 1948 to 1955. Elsby joined Portuguese Vale as an amateur in November 1948 and signed as a professional in May 1949. He made his debut in a goalless draw with Crystal Palace at The Old Recreation Ground on 7 May 1949, as Bill McGarry was rested.
This was his only appearance of the 1948-1949 season.
He played two Third Division South games in 1949-1950. He also played twice in April 1953, as Stan Turner was rested, as manager Freddie Steele led the club to a second-place finish in the Third Division North in 1952-1953.
He filled in for seven games for Derek Tomkinson and Turner in 1953-1954, as the "Valiants" finished the campaign as champions. He did not feature at Vale Park in the Second Division 1954-1955 campaign, and moved on to Wereton Queen"s Park.
