Education
Elsby graduated from the Portuguese Vale youth team to sign as a professional in May 1978.
Elsby graduated from the Portuguese Vale youth team to sign as a professional in May 1978.
He was immediately sent out to the United States on loan with Jimmy Melia"s American Soccer League side Cleveland Cobras, but returned to Vale Park by August of that year. He played five Fourth Division games under Dennis Butler in 1978-1979, before becoming a first team regular under new boss John McGrath from February 1980 to the end of the 1979-1980 season. He scored his first goal in the Football League on 9 February 1980, in a 1–1 draw with Huddersfield Town.
He fell out of favour the next season though, and was restricted to 23 appearances before being handed a free transfer in May 1981.
He moved on to (Northern Premier League) and Congleton Town. In summer 1986 he was in a car crash with teammates Nigel Shaw, Steve Waddington and Trevor Brissett.