Career
Born in Wallsend, Northumberland, he began his career with local club Wallsend Thermal Welfare, before joining Newcastle United in May 1933. After taking over from Mick Burns as Newcastle"s first-choice goalkeeper during the 1934-1935 season, he went on to make a total of 106 appearances for Newcastle before joining Manchester United in December 1938 for a fee of £850. He retained the number one jersey for the next two months, but a run of four games at the end of February 1939 in which he conceded 16 goals saw Tommy Breen take over.
Tapken returned to duty for three games at the start of April, but a 3–1 defeat to Leeds United resulted in Breedon step in again for the final four games of the season.
During the Second World War, Tapken played in the Wartime League for his old club, Newcastle United (nine appearances), and Sunderland (two appearances) in 1942-1943, before finding more regular action with Darlington (32 appearances) in 1943-1944. In 1944-1945, as well as playing for Darlington (six appearances), he turned out for Aldershot (three appearances), Brighton & Hove Albion (two appearances) and Chester (one appearance).
He played one more season in the Wartime League with Darlington (six appearances), before returning to play 12 matches for Manchester United. However, with the resumption of The Football League in August 1946, Tapken – now 34 years old – was unable to regain his place in the Manchester United first team, and in April 1947, he moved to Darlington on a permanent basis.
He missed just 11 games in the 1947-1948 season, but his performances could not help Darlington to any higher than 16th place in the Third Division North.
In July 1952, Tapken took up an assistant trainer role with Stoke City.