Earlier, as a player, Reid was a left-hand batsman and right-arm bowler who played three matches for Victoria from 1869 to 1871. He took 16 wickets at an average of 10.87, with figures of 6 for 64 and 6 for 5 against Tasmania in 1870–71.[8] Less successful with the bat, he scored 12 runs in 5 innings.[9]
He was a winemaker, producing wine at Tarrawingee, Victoria, under the Reidsdale label, until 1874.[10]
Reid was appointed secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club in 1878, the club's first secretary to be paid.[11][12] He was also one of the first cricket journalists in Australia.[13]