Career
Briercliffe played either as a winger or a forward. As a youth he played for Bacup and Clitheroe before turning professional and joining Blackburn Rovers in 1897. He spent three seasons with Rovers, scoring five times in 1897-1898 and two more in 1898-1899.
He spent 1900-1901 at Stalybridge Rovers before joining Woolwich Arsenal in May 1901.
Briercliffe made an immediate impact at Arsenal. He made his debut on 2 September 1901 against Barnsley and was an ever-present in 1901-1902, becoming the Second Division side"s top scorer.
By now he chiefly played on the wing, and remained at the side in their first season in the top flight (1904-1905), before being surprisingly sold back to Blackburn Rovers in April 1905. In all, he played 133 games for Arsenal, scoring 34 goals.
Briercliffe soon left Blackburn for Plymouth Argyle, and he saw out his career with Brentford and Darwen.