After a short spell as a youth with Crystal Palace, Phillips began his senior career at Athenian League club Hayes and made his debut at the age of 15 in a victorious Middlesex Charity Cup semi-final match in April 1962. He made two further appearances towards the end of the 1961–62 season, but was robbed of the chance to play in the 1962 Middlesex Charity Cup final because of a broken thumb. He made seven appearances during the 1962–63 season, before departing the club at the end of the campaign. While a youth, Phillips was invited to a trial for the England Youth team, but failed to win a call-up to a squad.
Brentford
Phillips joined Third Division club Brentford during the 1963 off-season. He had a difficult start to life at Griffin Park, conceding 13 goals in his first two youth and reserve matches. An injury to Gerry Cakebread and poor performances by his deputy Fred Ryecraft saw manager Frank Blunstone hand Phillips his first team debut in an FA Cup first round match versus Margate at Griffin Park on 16 November 1963. Phillips conceded two goals in the 2–2 draw and it was his only appearance of the 1963–64 season. Phillips was thereafter confined to the reserve team during the majority of his first three seasons with Brentford. Phillips finally made his first team breakthrough in the 1966–67 season, after the club had been relegated to the Fourth Division. He was a virtual ever-present during the season and made 42 appearances. He further improved his appearance tally in the 1967–68 season, making 48 appearances. Faced with improved competition from Chic Brodie, Phillips' appearance-count dropped during the 1968–69 and 1969–70 seasons. He was an ever-present during the 1971–72 season, which saw Brentford promoted back to the Third Division with a third-place finish. 1972–73 proved to be Phillips' last with the Bees and he departed the club at the end of the season, after relegation back to the Fourth Division was confirmed. Phillips made 227 appearances during his 10 years at Griffin Park and was awarded a testimonial versus an ex-Brentford XI in October 1973, which earned him £825. He was inducted into the Brentford Hall of Fame in May 2017.
After his release from Brentford, Phillips dropped into non-league football and reunited with a number of former Brentford teammates at Southern League Premier Division club Hillingdon Borough during the 1973 off-season. A bottom-place finish saw Hillingdon relegated in Phillips' first season with the club, but promotion straight back to the Premier Division was achieved in the 1974–75 season. He departed the Leas Stadium in 1978 and received a testimonial. Phillips was offered to join a club in Pretoria, South Africa, but turned the offer down.
After leaving professional football, Phillips worked for British Airways for over 30 years. He was married to Jacqui and his two sons Kelly and Trent both became footballers for Staines Town, with Trent playing as a goalkeeper. He was a close friend of former Brentford teammate Alan Hawley and both served as the other's best man. He died of cancer on 3 September 2018.
