Eccles was a Dublin-born centre-back who spent the bulk of his career in two spells with Shamrock Rovers. He also played for Kingsway Olympic, in Australia, and Dundalk before finding his way over to England with Leicester in October 1988.

He arrived at Filbert Street having bagged a number of Irish league and cup medals and also with an international cap for the Republic when David Pleat snapped-up his services on a free transfer. It was a brief stay, however, with Eccles making just one league appearance for the Foxes and duly departing the club the following January.

That sole appearance came when he was called on as back-up to the injured Steve Walsh, but couldn't handle the pace of Second Division football and was substituted at half-time. He was loaned out to Stafford Rangers before returning to Ireland with Dundalk, and then again with Shamrock where he enjoyed more success.

After football he went on to become employed in the governmental department of the Marine in Dublin.