With football in the Vale of Leven in decline, John Cust headed for Bury. They were struggling in the Football League Division I, so he might have hoped to play more than nine games in 1897-98 and to contribute more than one goal. Having failed to do that, he headed for Southampton, who had just won the Southern League, twice running. But he never featured in their third successive championship in 1899, let alone in any FA Cup football, as the Saints progressed to the 1900 FA Cup Final and ignominious defeat by, of all teams, Bury.

So, after a few games in the Western and United Leagues and being selected for Hampshire v Dorset in March 1899 (see line-up below), he returned to Scotland to assist Renton, the “derby” rivals of his first club.