Houlker was born in Blackburn and started his long playing career at Blackburn Hornets, progressing through a variety of local sides in his home-town (including Oswaldtwistle Rovers, Cob Wall and Park Road) before joining Blackburn Rovers in August 1894. He remained at Blackburn Rovers for eight seasons. His time at Blackburn Rovers was during a long lean period for the club. During the 1896–97 season they stayed in the First Division only as the result of a decision to increase the number of teams. The final years of the 19th century brought little success for Blackburn Rovers and several narrow escapes from relegation.
Houlker then moved along the south coast to join newly crowned Southern League champions Southampton in May 1903. He remained at The Dell for three seasons, helping the Saints to retain the championship in 1903–04, playing alongside Bert Lee and Tommy Bowman.
Tenacious and strong, rather than clever, Houlker became very popular with the Southampton public and during his time at The Dell he also won two more England caps against Ireland and Wales in 1906.
In 1906 he intended to retire from professional football but was persuaded to rejoin Blackburn Rovers where he turned out regularly until finally retiring in 1907. Retirement didn't last long and he joined Colne in 1909.
During World War I he played for Blackburn Rovers in a wartime match when he was 45.
He was then working as an overseer at a mill, before running a coal and haulage business in Blackburn before retiring in 1947. He died in 1962, a month after his 90th birthday.
