Palk started his career with
South Liverpool when, in 1940, he was invited to train with
Liverpool by
manager George Kay. He scored 14 goals in 61 games throughout
World War II, including one in the
Merseyside derby match of April 1944, in the
Liverpool Senior Cup. He spent 1944 to 1946 in
Mombasa, serving in the
Royal Navy. He signed for a then club record
transfer fee of £10,000 in July 1948. Palk scored four goals in 42
Third Division South games in the
1948–49 campaign, scoring his first senior goal against
Reading in a 2–1 win at
Elm Park on 1 September. He then scored three goals in 46 appearances in
1949–50, in the last ever season of football at the
Old Recreation Ground. During a 2–1 defeat at
Bristol Rovers on 17 December 1949, he caused a minor dispute as his successfully converted
penalty kick passed through the net. He hit six goals in 49 appearances in the
1950–51 season, missing just one league game. This was the first season of football at the newly opened
Vale Park. Following the death of manager Gordon Hodgson,
Ivor Powell was appointed as manager, before he was replaced by
Freddie Steele in December 1951. Palk played 31 games in
1951–52, scoring one goal, before the club released him. He had made 169 appearances (159 in the
Football League and 10 in the
FA Cup) for the "Valiants", scoring 14 league goals. He later played for
Worcester City,
Flint Town and
Oswestry Town. ==Personal life==