Charlie Carter (footballer) explained

Charlie Carter
Fullname:Charlie Leslie Carter[1]
Birth Date:25 October 1996[2]
Birth Place:Sutton, England
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Dorking Wanderers
Clubnumber:16
Youthclubs1:Fulham
Youthyears2:2013–2015
Youthclubs2:Woking
Years1:2015–2018
Clubs1:Woking
Caps1:73
Goals1:12
Years2:2015–2016
Clubs2:Chipstead (loan)
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Chesterfield
Caps3:20
Goals3:4
Years4:2019–2022
Clubs4:Stevenage
Caps4:67
Goals4:8
Years5:2022–2023
Clubs5:Eastleigh
Caps5:58
Goals5:10
Years6:2023–
Clubs6:Dorking Wanderers
Caps6:25
Goals6:8
Club-Update:17:35, 28 April 2024 (UTC)

Charlie Leslie Carter (born 25 October 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club Dorking Wanderers.

Carter played for Fulham at the age of eight, before joining Woking's academy. It was at Woking where he signed his first professional contract ahead of the 2016–17 season, which would mark Carter's first season playing regular first-team football. After two full seasons at Woking, the latter in which he was the club's top goalscorer from midfield, Carter signed for Chesterfield of the National League in June 2018. He spent one season at Chesterfield before signing for League Two club Stevenage for an undisclosed fee in July 2019. Following three years at Stevenage, Carter joined Eastleigh in July 2022. He went onto feature over 60 times for Eastleigh, before joining fellow National League side, Dorking Wanderers for an undisclosed fee in October 2023.

Career

Woking

Carter played at Fulham's academy at the age of eight.[3] He joined Woking aged 16, where he was captain at various youth levels for three seasons.[3] During the 2015–16 season, Carter spent time on loan at Chipstead.[4] [5] Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Carter played in a number of first-team pre-season friendlies for Woking and subsequently earned his first professional contract.[3] [6] He made his competitive first-team debut in a 2–2 draw away at Solihull Moors on 9 August 2016, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute for Ismail Yakubu.[2] [7] During his first season in the first-team, Carter made 36 appearances in all competitions as Woking finished the National League season in 18th position.[2] [8] Carter signed a contract extension with Woking on 15 June 2017, stating he initially found the step up to first-team football difficult, but believed with a year of experience he would be better placed for the following season.[9]

The 2017–18 season would serve as Carter's breakthrough season in terms of his attacking output from midfield.[2] He scored his first goal for Woking in the club's second match of the season, a 3–1 away loss at Tranmere Rovers on 8 August 2017.[10] Carter made 46 appearances in all competitions and scored 12 times from midfield. He finished the season as the club's top goalscorer,[11] as Woking were relegated back to the National League South after finishing in 21st place.[12]

Chesterfield

Despite new Woking manager Alan Dowson stating he felt Carter should remain at the club for a further year to continue his development,[13] Carter signed for National League club Chesterfield on 20 June 2018.[11] He joined the club for an undisclosed fee, with Chesterfield having to pay compensation for the out-of-contract player as Carter was under the age of 24.[11] Chesterfield manager Martin Allen stated he had met with Carter at Wembley Stadium during the FA Trophy final weeks prior to him signing for the club.[14] Carter made his Chesterfield debut on the opening day of the 2018–19 season, playing the whole match in a 1–0 away victory against Ebbsfleet United.[15] In the club's next match, he scored twice in the first-half in an eventual 3–0 triumph over Aldershot Town on 7 August 2018.[16] He played regularly during the opening two months of the season, but suffered an ankle injury in a 1–1 draw away at Maidstone United on 29 September 2018.[17] Carter underwent an operation on the ankle in October 2018.[17] He returned to the first-team five months later on 23 February 2019, coming on as a 55th-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Harrogate Town.[18] Three days later, he started and scored in a 2–0 away victory at Barnet.[19] Carter went on to play regularly through to the remainder of the season as Chesterfield finished the season in 14th position in the National League.[20] He made 20 appearances in all competitions during a season disrupted by his ankle injury, scoring four goals.

Stevenage

Carter signed for League Two club Stevenage on 2 July 2019, joining for an undisclosed fee "after weeks of negotiations".[21] [22] [23] He made his Stevenage debut in the club's 2–1 loss to Southend United at Broadhall Way on 13 August 2019, playing the opening 77 minutes of the match.[24] [25] Carter's first goal for the club came in a 2–1 home victory against Grimsby Town on 12 October 2019.[26] The goal proved to be decisive in earning Stevenage their first victory of the 2019–20 season.[26] Carter made 37 appearances during his first season with the club. He finished the season as the club's top goalscorer with six goals. Having scored four times in 23 appearances during the 2020–21 season, Carter's season was ended through injury in February 2021.[27] He signed a new contract to remain at Stevenage on 26 May 2021.[27] [28] After making 20 appearances for Stevenage during the 2021–22 season, Carter was released by the club at the end of the season.[29]

Eastleigh

Carter joined National League club Eastleigh on 4 July 2022.[30] He was awarded the National League Player of the Month award for February 2023.[31]

Dorking Wanderers

On 16 October 2023, Carter signed for National League rivals Dorking Wanderers for an undisclosed fee.[32]

Style of play

Carter has predominantly been deployed as an attacking midfielder throughout his career.[23] [33] Carter states that a lot of his goals come from arriving late into the penalty area.[34]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Woking2015–16National League00000000
National League3204000360
2017–18National League4112401[35] 04612
Total73128000108212
Chipstead (loan)2015–16Isthmian League Division One SouthNo data currently available
Chesterfield2018–19National League2040000204
Stevenage2019–20League Two29520105[36] 1376
2020–21League Two183301110234
League Two200001000210
Total6785031618110
Eastleigh2022–23National League451021305011
2023–24National League1301100141
Total581032306412
Dorking Wanderers2023–24National League25810268
Career total243421513111127345

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Stevenage . English Football League . 68 . 27 October 2019.
  2. News: Soccerway – Charlie Carter. Soccerway. 22 August 2019.
  3. News: Sports Promotions – Charlie Carter. Sports Promotions. 22 August 2019.
  4. News: Town sink to the bottom . Whitstable Town F.C. . 10 November 2015 . 13 May 2021.
  5. News: Hythe Town 3–0 Chipstead . Kent Sports News . 16 April 2016 . 13 May 2021.
  6. News: Academy player Charlie Carter signs for First Team. Woking F.C.. 26 July 2016. 22 August 2019.
  7. News: Solihull Moors 2–2 Woking. Soccerway. 9 August 2016. 22 August 2019.
  8. News: National League – 2016–17 – League Table. Soccerway. 22 August 2019.
  9. News: Charlie Carter: Woking youngster signs new contract at National League club. BBC Sport. 15 June 2017. 22 August 2019.
  10. News: Tranmere Rovers 3–1 Woking. BBC Sport. 9 August 2017. 22 August 2019.
  11. News: Charlie Carter: Chesterfield sign Woking attacking midfielder. BBC Sport. 20 June 2018. 22 August 2019.
  12. News: National League – 2017–18 – League Table. Soccerway. 22 August 2019.
  13. News: Former Woking midfielder Charlie Carter 'can't wait' for Chesterfield challenge. Surrey Live. 25 June 2018. 22 August 2019.
  14. News: Attacking midfielder signs. Chesterfield F.C.. 20 June 2018. 22 August 2019.
  15. News: Ebbsfleet United 0–1 Chesterfield. BBC Sport. 4 August 2018. 22 August 2019.
  16. News: Chesterfield 3–0 Aldershot Town. BBC Sport. 7 August 2018. 22 August 2019.
  17. News: Chesterfield injury update: Carter out for three months, Binnom-Williams a doubt, Talbot return unknown, Weir still not fully fit. Derbyshire Times. 11 October 2018. 22 August 2019.
  18. News: Chesterfield 0–1 Harrogate Town. BBC Sport. 23 February 2019. 22 August 2019.
  19. News: Barnet 0–2 Chesterfield. BBC Sport. 26 February 2019. 22 August 2019.
  20. News: National League – 2018–19 – League Table. Soccerway. 22 August 2019.
  21. News: Chris Stokes, Charlie Carter & Paul Digby: Trio join League Two side Stevenage. BBC Sport. 2 July 2019. 22 August 2019.
  22. News: Charlie Carter joins Stevenage. Stevenage F.C.. 2 July 2019. 22 August 2019.
  23. News: Chesterfield agree sale of Charlie Carter to League Two Stevenage. Derbyshire Times. 2 July 2019. 22 August 2019. Graham. Smyth.
  24. News: Stevenage 1–2 Southend United. BBC Sport. 13 August 2019. 22 August 2019.
  25. News: Match Report – Stevenage 1–2 Southend United. Stevenage F.C.. 13 August 2019. 22 August 2019.
  26. News: Stevenage 2–1 Grimsby Town. BBC Sport. 12 October 2019. 16 August 2020.
  27. News: Charlie Carter: Stevenage attacking midfielder signs new contract. BBC Sport. 26 May 2021. 29 May 2021.
  28. News: Charlie Carter signs new contract. Stevenage F.C.. 26 May 2021. 29 May 2021.
  29. News: Stevenage FC Retained & Released List 2021/22. Stevenage F.C.. 10 May 2022. 1 August 2022.
  30. News: New signing: Charlie Carter joins the Spitfires. Eastleigh F.C.. 4 July 2022. 1 August 2022.
  31. Web site: Maher and Carter Feast On The February Awards. www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 13 March 2023. 13 March 2023.
  32. Web site: Charlie Carter joins The Wanderers. www.dorkingwanderers.com. 16 October 2023. 16 October 2023.
  33. News: Stevenage FC – Charlie Carter. Stevenage F.C.. 12 August 2021.
  34. News: Charlie Carter's magic feet delight fans, but stay firmly on the ground. Derbyshire Times. 8 August 2018. 12 August 2021.
  35. Appearances in the FA Trophy
  36. Appearances in the EFL Trophy