Non-League football (1932–1935) Drinkwater began his career at
Athenian League club
Hampstead in 1932 and failed to make an appearance before moving to
Northfleet United in March 1933. He returned to Hampstead shortly afterwards and made his debut for the club in the penultimate game of the 1932–33 season, a 4–1 victory over Uxbridge Town. Drinkwater remained with Hampstead (then renamed
Golders Green) for the 1933–34 season and scored his first goal for the club in the opening game of the season, a 2–1 defeat to
Walthamstow Avenue. He scored 10 goals in 36 appearances during the campaign and helped the Greens to a third-place finish in the league. Drinkwater's form earned him a move to
Second Division club
Brentford as an amateur in June 1934, He signed a professional contract October that year. He instantly made a name for himself when he scored within three minutes of the
kick-off.
The Straits Times reported that Drinkwater "trapped
a centre with the coolness of a veteran, steadied himself and drove the ball into the net". After one further appearance, == Representative career ==