Playing career

Ditchfield joined Burslem Port Vale

Port Vale F.C.

Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

 from Rossendale in the summer of 1886. On his debut game, Vale lost 7–0 to Preston North End

Preston North End F.C.

Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...

 in a friendly. He soon became a regular though, and with 8 strikes was top scorer for the 1888–89 season and in 1891 he helped the side share the North Staffordshire Charity Challenge Cup. He converted to a central defensive position in September 1892, five months later he picked up an ankle injury and was released at the close of the 1895–96 season

1895–96 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1895–96 season was Burslem Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football in the Football League. Another poor season struggling at the wrong end of the table, this time they failed to gain re-election; two seasons in the Midlands League followed, and despite a finish of 7th and then 5th...

.