Born in Wallsend, Stubbins first played for Sunderland as an amateur and signed for Newcastle as a professional in 1937. He was a prolific goal-scorer during World War II, finding the net an incredible 245 times, including 39 in one season; he once scored four hat-tricks in succession. He played for England only once however, in a 1945 'Victory' international.
Stubbins was fast, strong, and skilful and his prowess kept Jacky Milburn playing on the right wing until he signed for Liverpool in 1946 for the huge sum of #13,000. There he scored 24 goals in each of his first two seasons (in 36 and 40 appearances). After his first two seasons at Liverpool, something seems to have gone wrong, however, and he asked for a transfer. This was denied and he scored only 27 goals in the next five seasons. He last played in 1953. After a spell managing in America, Stubbins returned to the North East and became a popular sports writer. He appears on the famous cover of the Beatles' Sergeant Pepper, wearing a red Liverpool shirt.