Phil joined the Nailers for his latest spell with the club in June 2023. He started his football path with his home town club of Rotherham United. He moved on to Lincoln City in 2004 and spent four years at Sincil Bank, where he made his first team debut in the opening match of the 2007/8 season, and played again in an FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest. There had been a couple of loan spells at Grantham during his time at Lincoln, but for the next three years he was at Corby Town. After another loan spell at Grantham, the dependable centre back made it a permanent move, but after one-season moved on to Boston United. His next move was to Coalville Town where he scored two goals in his 12 games, before starting a long association with Belper Town. In three different spells he reached the 150-appearance milestone for the Nailers, as well as scoring a winning play-off goal to gain promotion and was twice voted into the team of the division during his stays.