It must have been confusing at the time when Ireland left Scotland to go to England. He played only 18 league games for Rangers from 1924 to 1929 before heading south of the border to Liverpool. He made just one first-team appearance for Liverpool, replacing regular half-back Tom Morrison in the home first division fixture with Grimsby Town at Anfield on Boxing Day 1930. He ran a billiards saloon and a number of shops in Perth, Scotland, the home of St. Johnstone football club, that he served for two spells in the 1930s.