Career
Born in Street Pancras, London he moved as a child to the north east where he turned out for Tynemouth Schools. He subsequently moved to Staffordshire and was playing for Chaddleston Mental Hospital when he was signed by Aston Villa in October 1926. Aston Villa
He appeared seven times for Villa in the 1927-1928 and 1928-1929 seasons without making any real impression.
He spent the next four seasons in the reserves before moving to the South coast to join Second Division Southampton in June 1933, to replace Johnny Arnold who had been transferred to Fulham the previous February.
Southampton
According to Holley & Chalk"s "Alphabet of the Saints" he was "a winger of thrust and enterprise" who was a "busy sort of player who could play anywhere in the forward line except centre-forward". He made his debut on 26 August 1933 in the opening match of the 1933-1934 season against Bradford City, before injury forced him to miss several months (with Bill Luckett standing in at outside-left).
Over the next three seasons Tully was a regular starter as Saints struggled both on the pitch and financially, before losing his place to John Summers in 1936. After making only three appearances in 1936-1937 he moved back to London to join Clapton Orient.
During his four years at The Dell he made 101 appearances, scoring nine goals.
Later career
At Orient, he found his goal-scoring touch, with 18 goals in two years, including 13 in 1937-1938, making him Orient"s top scorer. After two seasons playing in east London, the onset of the Second World War brought about his retirement. He then joined his father"s carpentry business before returning to Chaddleston Mental Hospital where he worked as an attendant.