Early career French started his career as an apprentice with his home town club
Shrewsbury Town, and signed professionally in 1961. Fortunately, French had great stamina, and once the ball was wormed out to French on the wing his hangover seemed to evaporate into thin air. French was regarded as one of the best wingers in
the Football League, and he used his strength, pace and two-footed ability to help Luton to two promotions. Luton Town gave him the chance to return on his release, but prison life had taken its toll on French, and he was unable to regain his place in the team. A short loan spell at
Reading proved to be a last hurrah, and he soon left to play in the United States with the
Boston Minutemen.{{cite web ==References==