West was born in 1910 in Walker, Northumberland,[1] the sixth child of Joseph West, a colliery deputy, and his wife Alice.[a]
He played football as a centre forward for Walker Park, from where he signed for Newcastle United in May 1932 after scoring all five Newcastle goals in a trial appearance in a friendly match.[2] He spent 18 months with the club, never appeared for the first team, and, described as a speedy inside forward, moved on to Cardiff City in November 1933.[5] He made six appearances in the Third Division South and scored twice, in a 3–1 defeat to Luton Town in December[6] and a 4–2 victory over Bournemouth in January 1934,[7] and was released on a free transfer at the end of the season.
West joined North Eastern League club Walker Celtic, scored four goals against North Shields on his debut, and two days later moved back into the Football League with Darlington.[8][9] In January 1935, he scored 10 goals for Darlington Reserves as they beat West Stanley 12–2 in the North Eastern League,[9] and was the top scorer for the reserve side, but could not dislodge the prolific Jerry Best from the first team.[10] He played only twice in the Third Division North, when Best was unavailable, and scored once: Darlington's fourth goal in a 4–1 defeat of Lincoln City in March.[11][12] By November, he was back with Walker Celtic[13] who became the 1935–36 North Eastern League runners-up.
For the 1936–1937 season West moved southwards and played for Ashford of the Kent League.[14] In April 1937 he scored seven goals in Ashford's record 15–0 league victory over Erith & Belvedere.[15]
Thereafter West returned to North Eastern League football: he began the 1937-1938 season with Jarrow; in February 1938 he returned to Walker Celtic;[16] in August 1938 he signed on for South Shields but was unable to command a first team place; and in April 1939 was with Northern Football Alliance club Alnwick Town.[17]
West died in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1965 at the age of 55.[1][b]