Career
He played for, and captained, Heart of Midlothian in the early stages of his football career before being persuaded to join Preston North End by club secretary William Sudell who also provided him with a job as a slater. Ross was made captain of Preston and over the next few years earned a reputation as one of the best defenders in English football. He featured in the 1888 FA Cup Final where Preston were beaten 2–1 by West Bromwich Albion.
He was transferred to Everton in 1888 where he was reportedly paid £10 per month — a significantly above-average wage for a football player at the time.
Health problems forced him to retire from football 1893 and he died a year later from Tuberculosis.
