Maloney was born in Liverpool and came through the junior ranks at Anfield before signing professional forms in January 1951. The centre-half's opportunities for first-team football were limited and he made six first division appearances in 1952/53 and another half-dozen a year later in an unfamiliar forward role. After Liverpool’s relegation into the Second Division Maloney joined third division south’s Shrewsbury Town and made nearly 250 appearances for the Shropshire club. Former Red, Norman Low, brought Maloney on a free transfer to Port Vale in the summer of 1961. Following a 4-2 opening-day defeat Maloney was released, two days after he made his debut!