Willie Carr
Encyclopedia
William McInanny Carr is a former Scottish
international footballer.
but spent part of his formative teenage years in Cambridge
, where his family relocated in 1963. He is famed for the donkey kick goal scored for Coventry City
against Everton
in October 1970, when he took a free kick by gripping the ball between his ankles and flicking it up for Ernie Hunt
to volley home. The move gained widespread fame as the match was televised on Match of the Day
, and moved the authorities to ban such a skill at the end of the season.
The midfielder had joined Coventry
in 1967 as an apprentice and made his debut as a substitute against Arsenal
that year. He remained at Highfield Road
until 1975, scoring 37 goals in 292 games in all competitions for the Sky Blues. Along with Hunt and the likes of Neil Martin
and Dennis Mortimer
he was part of the Coventry side that achieved the club's highest ever league finish – sixth in 1970, meriting a place in the UEFA Cup
the season after.
During his time with the club, he won 6 caps
for Scotland
, between 1970 and 1972. His international debut came on 18 April 1970 in a 1–0 win in Northern Ireland
.
Carr struggled with a knee injury (suffered against Liverpool
in April 1973), before moving on to Wolverhampton Wanderers
for £80,000 in March 1975 and made his debut against Chelsea
in the same month, scoring once in a memorable 7–1 victory. Here, he was a first-choice player and helped his new side to win the 1976–77 Second Division title
and the 1980 League Cup
. He finally left Wolves in Summer 1982 shortly after they were relegated from the top flight. In total, he made 289 appearances for the club, scoring 26 times.
He joined Millwall
, but lasted just six months at the London club before returning to the Midlands and drifting out of the professional game. He had spells at , and in the non-league
before calling time on his playing career in 1988.
Today, he is a rep for an engineering supplies firm in the Birmingham area.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
international footballer.
Career
Carr was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
but spent part of his formative teenage years in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, where his family relocated in 1963. He is famed for the donkey kick goal scored for Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in October 1970, when he took a free kick by gripping the ball between his ankles and flicking it up for Ernie Hunt
Ernie Hunt
Roger Patrick "Ernie" Hunt is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Swindon Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton, Coventry City, Doncaster Rovers and Bristol City, and for the Los Angeles Wolves in the United Soccer Association. At international level, he was capped...
to volley home. The move gained widespread fame as the match was televised on Match of the Day
Match of the Day
Match of the Day is the BBC's main football television programme. Typically, it is shown on BBC One on Saturday evenings during the English football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in English football's top division, the Premier League...
, and moved the authorities to ban such a skill at the end of the season.
The midfielder had joined Coventry
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in 1967 as an apprentice and made his debut as a substitute against 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...
that year. He remained at Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
until 1975, scoring 37 goals in 292 games in all competitions for the Sky Blues. Along with Hunt and the likes of Neil Martin
Neil Martin
Neil Martin is a Scottish former football player, who scored 100 league goals in both Scotland and England and won three full international caps for Scotland in the 1960s and 1970s. Known for his strength, power, bravery and commitment, Martin scored consistently in a journeyman career...
and Dennis Mortimer
Dennis Mortimer
Dennis Mortimer is an English former footballer and distinguished captain of Aston Villa.Mortimer began his career with Coventry City, where he came through the ranks and made over 200 appearances as a promising midfielder...
he was part of the Coventry side that achieved the club's highest ever league finish – sixth in 1970, meriting a place in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
the season after.
During his time with the club, he won 6 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, between 1970 and 1972. His international debut came on 18 April 1970 in a 1–0 win in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
.
Carr struggled with a knee injury (suffered against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in April 1973), before moving on to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
for £80,000 in March 1975 and made his debut against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in the same month, scoring once in a memorable 7–1 victory. Here, he was a first-choice player and helped his new side to win the 1976–77 Second Division title
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
and the 1980 League Cup
1980 Football League Cup Final
The 1980 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 1979–80 Football League Cup, the 20th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in The Football League...
. He finally left Wolves in Summer 1982 shortly after they were relegated from the top flight. In total, he made 289 appearances for the club, scoring 26 times.
He joined 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 lasted just six months at the London club before returning to the Midlands and drifting out of the professional game. He had spells at , and in the non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
before calling time on his playing career in 1988.
Today, he is a rep for an engineering supplies firm in the Birmingham area.