Lindfield came to Western Suburbs in 1923. He played eleven seasons for Wests between 1923 and 1934. He played hooker in two premiership winning teams: 1930 and 1934.
He shifted to Canterbury-Bankstown for two seasons between 1935 and 1936 before retiring. Budgen played in Canterbury's first ever game as a club in Round 1 1935 against North Sydney at North Sydney Oval which ended in a 20–5 loss.