Darren Carter

For other people named Darren Carter, see Darren Carter (disambiguation).
Darren Carter

Carter playing for Northampton Town in 2014
Personal information
Full name Darren Anthony Carter[1]
Date of birth (1983-12-18) 18 December 1983[1]
Place of birth Solihull, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Forest Green Rovers
Number 12
Youth career
1998–2001 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 Birmingham City 45 (3)
2004 → Sunderland (loan) 10 (1)
2005–2007 West Bromwich Albion 53 (4)
2007–2011 Preston North End 94 (4)
2010–2011 → Millwall (loan) 10 (0)
2012–2013 Cheltenham Town 34 (6)
2013–2015 Northampton Town 60 (6)
2015– Forest Green Rovers 39 (9)
National team
2002 England U19 2 (0)
2002–2003 England U20 11 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:48, 3 September 2016 (UTC).


Darren Anthony Carter (born 18 December 1983) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club Forest Green Rovers.

A former England under-19 and under-20 international, he began his career with Birmingham City, and came to prominence at the age of 18 when his penalty won the club promotion into the Premier League in the 2002 First Division play-off final. He was loaned out to Sunderland in winter 2004, before he was sold on to West Bromwich Albion for £1.5 million in July 2005. In August 2007, he was sold on to Preston North End for a fee of up to £1.25 million. Loaned out to Millwall in the 2010–11 season, he later had to spend the 2011–12 season without a club after tearing a groin muscle during a trial game. He returned to action in the 2012–13 campaign with Cheltenham Town, and then spent two seasons with Northampton Town. In September 2015, Carter signed for Forest Green Rovers on a free transfer for the remainder of the season.

Club career

Birmingham City

Carter was born in Solihull, West Midlands.[1] He made his first-team debut for Birmingham City in the First Division at the age of 18 in a 1–0 defeat to local rivals West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on 29 January 2002.[2] He scored his first goal in senior football on 10 April, helping the Blues to secure a play-off spot with a 3–1 victory over Crewe Alexandra at St Andrew's.[3] On 12 May, he made himself a Birmingham City hero when he scored the decisive penalty in the shoot-out to win the play-off final against Norwich City at the Millennium Stadium.[4] The match had finished 1–1 after extra time and the spot-kick sealed Birmingham's promotion to the Premiership.[5]

Carter played only 12 Premier League games in the 2002–03 season, with half of these appearances coming before mid-October. His first team opportunities were even more restricted in the 2003–04 campaign, as he featured in just five Premier League matches. Despite this, he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract in January 2004 after 20 months of negotiations.[6] In March 2004 he was scheduled to go out on loan to Rotherham United before injuries and suspensions at Birmingham persuaded manager Steve Bruce to put an end to the deal.[7]

He was loaned to Sunderland in September 2004.[8] Carter scored on his debut, in a 3–1 victory over Preston North End at the Stadium of Light on 18 September.[9] He made nine further appearances for the club before being recalled by Birmingham on 6 December.[10] This gave his Birmingham career the boost it needed, and he was seen as a vital member of the squad until his July 2005 transfer to West Bromwich Albion for £1.5 million.[11] At the end of the 2004–05 season, Sunderland won promotion to the Premier League as champions of the Championship.

West Bromwich Albion

Carter made his West Bromwich Albion debut at The Hawthorns in a 3–2 defeat to his former club Birmingham on 27 August 2005.[12] He initially struggled to make the bench, and on 11 October manager Bryan Robson said that he "is still very much in my thoughts at this time".[13] He scored his first goal for the club four days later with a 20-yard (18 m) volley in a 2–1 victory over Arsenal; the strike won him the club's Goal-of-the-Season Award.[14] The "Baggies" were relegated at the end of the 2005–06 season, and Carter was singled out for booing by the home crowd.[15]

He made 33 appearances in the Championship in the 2006–07 season, and was used as a substitute in the play-off final defeat to Derby County at Wembley, replacing Zoltán Gera on 71 minutes.[16]

Preston North End

After being told he could not be guaranteed first-team football at West Bromwich Albion by manager Tony Mowbray, Carter signed a four-year deal with Paul Simpson's Preston North End on 9 August 2007, for a fee that could rise to £1.25m from an initial £750,000 (with a 20% sell-on clause).[14][17] Carter made his Preston debut in a 0–0 draw against Norwich City at Deepdale two days later.[18] His performance in the match earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week.[19] On 17 February 2008, Carter scored an 94th-minute own goal for Portsmouth to knock Preston out of the FA Cup at the Fifth Round stage.[20] He finished the 2007–08 campaign with 43 appearances.

Manager Alan Irvine started Carter in just eight games in the 2008–09 season, and the midfielder later admitted the season was "nothing short of a disaster for me personally".[21] Preston reached the play-off semi-finals, but lost 2–1 on aggregate to Sheffield United.[22] Carter was transfer-listed at the end of the 2009–10 season after complaining of a lack of first-team opportunities under new manager Darren Ferguson.[23][24]

In July 2010 he spent a week on trial with Millwall, but a proposed six-month loan move fell through.[25] He then joined Southampton on trial.[26] On 4 August, he joined Kenny Jackett's Millwall on a three-month loan.[27] He made his debut on the opening day of the new season, and was sent off for two bookable offences as his new club won 3–0 away at Bristol City.[28] The loan deal was extended to January.[29] He made five starts and six substitute appearances for the Lions.

On his return from loan, Carter went straight into Preston's starting eleven under new manager Phil Brown. He opened the scoring in the FA Cup-tie against Nottingham Forest, his first game for Preston for nine months; Forest won 2–1.[30] After Preston were relegated to League One and Carter's contract expired at the end of the 2010–11 season, he trained with the club during July, but no terms were agreed on a new deal.[31]

Carter began training with former club Birmingham City in August in the hope of earning a contract, but after no deal was forthcoming he had a trial in October with fellow Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion,[32] but manager Gus Poyet told him he was looking for a more physical type of midfielder. While playing for Nottingham Forest reserves in November as part of another trial, Carter tore a groin muscle, requiring surgery and a three-month recovery period.[33] Once he regained fitness towards the end of the 2011–12 season, he played for Walsall's reserves, and returned to Birmingham City for pre-season training.[34]

Cheltenham Town

In August 2012, Carter signed a six-month contract with League Two club Cheltenham Town.[35] He re-signed with the "Robins" in January, to keep him at Whaddon Road until the end of the 2012–13 season.[36] Cheltenham reached the play-off semi-finals, where they were beaten by Northampton Town; Carter was an unused substitute in both legs.[37][38] In May 2013, he was released by Cheltenham after manager Mark Yates admitted that he could not meet the player's wage demands.[39] Carter denied this was the case, saying no contract negotiations took place and that he was left out of the crucial end-of-season run-in without any explanation.[40]

Northampton Town

Carter playing for Northampton Town in 2013

Carter signed a two-year contract with Northampton Town in July 2013.[41] The club were still in League Two, having lost the play-off final to Bradford City.[42] In his competitive debut for Northampton, at York City in the opening match of the campaign, he was sent off for a second bookable offence with 18 minutes to play, and his team lost 1–0 thanks to a last-minute goal.[43] After two seasons at the club, and failing to hold down a first team place in 2014–15, Carter was released by manager Chris Wilder.[44]

Forest Green Rovers

On 22 September 2015, Carter signed for National League leaders Forest Green Rovers on a free transfer for the remainder of the season.[45] He made his debut against his former club, second-placed Cheltenham Town, that same evening; the match ended as a 2–2 draw.[46] He continued in the starting eleven, and on his fourth appearance, his shot from the edge of the penalty area opened the scoring in the 3–0 win away to Aldershot Town.[47] He scored his second goal for the club in an FA Cup first round away win over Football League club AFC Wimbledon on 7 November.[48]

He helped Forest Green reach the 2016 National League play-off Final at Wembley Stadium on 15 May 2016, and played the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 loss to Grimsby Town that denied the club a place in the Football League.[49] The following day he was offered a new contract by newly appointed manager Mark Cooper.[50] It was announced on 29 June 2016 that he had agreed a new one-year deal to remain with the club.[51]

He scored his first goal of the 2016–17 season on 27 August 2016 in a 4–1 away win over Maidstone United.[52]

International career

Carter represented the England under-20 team at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship,[53] and was capped 11 times in all at that level.[54] In one match he was sent off for a foul on Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.[55]

Style of play

Speaking in July 2005, Bryan Robson stated that Carter "has very good stamina and is very much a box-to-box player who can play in the centre of midfield or wide on the left. He is also left footed which gives us good balance in the squad, he has a good presence".[11]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 September 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Birmingham City 2001–02[56] First Division 13100002[lower-alpha 1]0151
2002–03[57] Premier League1200010—130
2003–04[58] Premier League503000—80
2004–05[59] Premier League15222——174
Total 453521020535
Sunderland (loan) 2004–05[59] Championship101———101
West Bromwich Albion 2005–06[12] Premier League2012030—251
2006–07[60] Championship33331312[lower-alpha 2]0415
Total 534516120666
Preston North End 2007–08[61] Championship3941030—434
2008–09[62] Championship18020002[lower-alpha 2]0220
2009–10[63] Championship2302130—281
2010–11[64] Championship14011——151
Total 9446260201086
Millwall (loan) 2010–11[64] Championship100—10—110
Cheltenham Town 2012–13[65] League Two 34630001[lower-alpha 3]0386
Northampton Town 2013–14[66] League Two37500001[lower-alpha 3]0385
2014–15[67] League Two23120002[lower-alpha 3]0271
Total 606200030656
Forest Green Rovers 2015–16[68] National League 33731—3[lower-alpha 4]0398
2016–17[68] National League 6200—0062
Total 39931—304510
Career total 3453324614113039640
  1. ↑ Appearances in First Division play-offs
  2. 1 2 Appearances in Championship play-offs
  3. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  4. ↑ Appearances in National League play-offs

Honours

Birmingham City

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ↑ "West Brom 1–0 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 29 January 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Birmingham 3–1 Crewe". BBC Sport. 10 April 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Birmingham reach Premiership". BBC Sport. 12 May 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Irwin, Mark (13 May 2002). "The £30m spot-kick". The Sun. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "Blues get Carter". BBC Sport. 22 January 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Millers fail to land Carter". BBC Sport. 10 March 2004. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Sunderland get Carter". BBC Sport. 16 September 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Sunderland 3–1 Preston". BBC Sport. 18 September 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  10. ↑ "Birmingham recall on-loan Carter". BBC Sport. 6 December 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Baggies clinch signing of Carter". BBC Sport. 4 July 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Games played by Darren Carter in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "Robson tells Carter to be patient". BBC Sport. 11 October 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  14. 1 2 "Carter seals Preston move". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 9 August 2007. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012.
  15. ↑ Bevan, Chris (11 September 2006). "Carter concerned about away form". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "Derby 1–0 West Brom". BBC Sport. 28 May 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "Carter joins Preston from Baggies". BBC Sport. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "Preston vs Norwich City". Preston North End F.C. 11 August 2007. Archived from the original on 26 August 2007.
  19. ↑ "Coca-Cola Championship Team of the Week (13/08/2007)" (JPG). The Football League. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  20. ↑ "Preston pay the penalty". The Football Association. 11 February 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  21. ↑ "Carter out to take Preston chance". BBC Sport. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  22. ↑ Vesty, Marc (11 May 2009). "Sheff Utd 1–0 Preston (agg 2–1)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "Manchester United's Danny Welbeck ponders Preston move". BBC Sport. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  24. ↑ "Darren Carter to consider Preston North End future". BBC Sport. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  25. ↑ "Young guns for hire". Lancashire Evening Post. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  26. ↑ "Barnet 0–1 Saints – Report". Southampton F.C. 27 July 2010. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010.
  27. ↑ "Millwall sign Preston North End man Darren Carter". BBC Sport. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  28. ↑ "Bristol City 0–3 Millwall". BBC Sport. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  29. ↑ "Preston midfielder Darren Carter extends Millwall stay". BBC Sport. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  30. ↑ Ellis, Brian (9 January 2011). "Preston 1 – Nottingham Forest 2 – Browned off by a late goal". Daily Star. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  31. ↑ "Brown working behind the scenes to improve PNE situation". Lancashire Evening Post. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  32. ↑ Evans, Gregg (6 October 2011). "Darren Carter trains with Brighton after two months at Blues". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  33. ↑ Tattum, Colin (18 November 2011). "Darren Carter on his plans for the future, and why he wanted to rejoin Blues". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  34. ↑ Tattum, Colin (27 July 2012). "Support of Blues fans has blown me away – Darren Carter". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  35. ↑ "Cheltenham Town sign Darren Carter on short-term deal". BBC Sport. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  36. ↑ "Darren Carter: Cheltenham Town confirm midfielder stay". BBC Sport. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  37. ↑ Osborne, Chris (2 May 2013). "Northampton 1–0 Cheltenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  38. ↑ Mitchell, Brendon (5 May 2013). "Cheltenham 0–1 Northampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  39. ↑ "Cheltenham Town: Marlon Pack among four offered new deals". BBC Sport. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  40. ↑ "Darren Carter unhappy it all turned 'sour'". Gloucestershire Echo. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  41. ↑ Willsher, Graham (9 July 2013). "Carter the man for Aidy". Northampton Town F.C. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  42. ↑ Maiden, Phil (18 May 2013). "Bradford 3–0 Northampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  43. ↑ "York 1–0 Northampton". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  44. ↑ "Northampton Town to release seven". Sky Sports News. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  45. ↑ "Carter signs as Clovis goes on loan". Forest Green Rovers FC. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  46. ↑ Orchard, Pete (22 September 2015). "Forest Green share spoils with Cheltenham Town in El Glosico". Stroud Life. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  47. ↑ Orchard, Peter (8 October 2015). "Darren Carter targets another winning run for Forest Green Rovers". Gloucester Citizen. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  48. ↑ "AFC Wimbledon 1–2 Forest Green". BBC Sport. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  49. ↑ "Forest Green Rovers 1-3 Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. 15 May 2016.
  50. ↑ "Darren Carter: Forest Green Rovers have 'unfinished business' in National League". BBC Sport. 16 May 2016.
  51. ↑ "Darren Carter: Forest Green Rovers midfielder signs new one-year contract". BBC Sport. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  52. ↑ "Maidstone United 1-4 Forest Green". BBC Sport. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  53. ↑ "Player Statistics: Darren Carter". FIFA. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  54. ↑ "Darren Carter". The Football Association. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  55. ↑ "Blues' Carter off as England kids crash". Birmingham Post. 12 June 2003. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Darren Carter in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Darren Carter in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  58. ↑ "Games played by Darren Carter in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  59. 1 2 "Games played by Darren Carter in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  60. ↑ "Games played by Darren Carter in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Darren Carter in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  62. ↑ "Games played by Darren Carter in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  63. ↑ "Games played by Darren Carter in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  64. 1 2 "Games played by Darren Carter in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Darren Carter in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Darren Carter in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Darren Carter in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  68. 1 2 "D. Carter". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 3 September 2016.

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