Darren Carter
Encyclopedia
Darren Anthony Carter (born 18 December 1983 in Solihull
) is an English football midfielder
who is a free agent after his contract with Preston North End
expired at the end of the 2010–11 season.
in the 1–0 defeat at their local rivals West Bromwich Albion
on 29 January 2002 in Division One. He subsequently hit the headlines in May of the same year when he scored the decisive penalty
in the shoot-out to win the Division One
play-off final against Norwich City
. The match had finished 1–1 after extra time and the spot-kick sealed Birmingham's promotion to the Premiership. Carter represented England U20 at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
.
After the former England Under-20 international signed a contract to keep him at the club until 2006, he was loaned to Sunderland
in September 2004. Carter scored on his debut in a 3–1 victory over Preston North End on 18 September 2004. He made nine further appearances for the Black Cats. 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.
Carter made his Albion debut in a 3–2 home defeat against his former club Birmingham on 27 August 2005. His first West Brom goal was a stunning winner in a 2–1 victory over Arsenal
on 15 October 2005; the strike won him the club's Goal-of-the-Season Award. After being told he wasn't guaranteed first team football at West Bromwich Albion, Carter signed for Preston North End on 9 August 2007, for a fee that could rise to £1.25m. Upon arrival at Deepdale, he signed a four year deal, and was handed the number 11 shirt. Carter made his North End debut in a 0–0 draw against Norwich City on 11 August 2007. His performance in the match earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week.
On 17 February 2008, during the fifth round of the 2007–08 FA Cup, Carter scored an own goal in the 94th minute which knocked Preston North End out of the competition.
Carter was transfer-listed at the end of the 2009–10 season. In July 2010 he spent a week on trial with Millwall
, but a proposed six-month loan move fell through. He then joined Southampton
on trial. On 4 August, he joined Millwall on a three-month loan. 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 to Bristol City
. The loan deal was extended to January.
On his return from loan, Carter went straight into the starting eleven and opened the scoring in the FA Cup-tie against Nottingham Forest, his first game for Preston for nine months; Forest won 2–1. 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.
Carter began training with former club Birmingham City in August in the hope of earning a contract, but after no deal was forthcoming he moved on in October to fellow Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion, again on trial.
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
) is an English football midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who is a free agent after his contract with Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
expired at the end of the 2010–11 season.
Career
Carter made his debut at the age of 18 for Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in the 1–0 defeat at their local rivals West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 29 January 2002 in Division One. He subsequently hit the headlines in May of the same year when he scored the decisive penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in the shoot-out to win the Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
play-off final against Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. The match had finished 1–1 after extra time and the spot-kick sealed Birmingham's promotion to the Premiership. Carter represented England U20 at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in United Arab Emirates between November 27 and December 19, 2003. The 2003 championship was the 14th contested...
.
After the former England Under-20 international signed a contract to keep him at the club until 2006, he was loaned to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in September 2004. Carter scored on his debut in a 3–1 victory over Preston North End on 18 September 2004. He made nine further appearances for the Black Cats. 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.
Carter made his Albion debut in a 3–2 home defeat against his former club Birmingham on 27 August 2005. His first West Brom goal was a stunning winner in a 2–1 victory over Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
on 15 October 2005; the strike won him the club's Goal-of-the-Season Award. After being told he wasn't guaranteed first team football at West Bromwich Albion, Carter signed for Preston North End on 9 August 2007, for a fee that could rise to £1.25m. Upon arrival at Deepdale, he signed a four year deal, and was handed the number 11 shirt. Carter made his North End debut in a 0–0 draw against Norwich City on 11 August 2007. His performance in the match earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week.
On 17 February 2008, during the fifth round of the 2007–08 FA Cup, Carter scored an own goal in the 94th minute which knocked Preston North End out of the competition.
Carter was transfer-listed at the end of the 2009–10 season. In July 2010 he spent a week on trial with Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, but a proposed six-month loan move fell through. He then joined Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on trial. On 4 August, he joined Millwall on a three-month loan. 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 to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. The loan deal was extended to January.
On his return from loan, Carter went straight into the starting eleven and opened the scoring in the FA Cup-tie against Nottingham Forest, his first game for Preston for nine months; Forest won 2–1. 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.
Carter began training with former club Birmingham City in August in the hope of earning a contract, but after no deal was forthcoming he moved on in October to fellow Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion, again on trial.
External links
- Darren Carter player profile at pnefc.net
- Darren Carter player profile at wba.co.uk