Chris Dawson was on trial from Bolton Wanderers when he played in the Football league Youth alliance for Exeter City Reserves against Brentford in April 2000. A midfielder, he signed a professional contract at Bolton in 1998 having been a youth player there since 1996.

After his trial at Exeter, he left the UK for Malaysia where he played in Kuala Lumpur before returning to appear for Leigh RMI and Brormsgrove Rovers. 

Although born in Coventry, and capped by Scotland at youth level, he was eligible to play for the Seychelles and appeared in four internationals starting with the 1-0 defeat against Mauritius in October 2002.