considered too small to be a professional. He moved to leading local amateur side Esh Winning. On 10 October 1931 Carter made his debut for Sunderland reserves against Walker Celtic He retained his place a week later. On 12 November 1931, he signed a professional contract. It was a part-time contract (training 2 nights a week) for £3 a week plus £1 for each reserve team appearance. A big increase on his 45p a week electrician's apprenticeship. After 9 appearances, his wage was increased to £8 a week. Carter captained Sunderland to the Football League title in 1936, at that time the youngest man ever to have captained a First Division title-winning side. On 28 March 1936, Carter was sent off for the only time in his career in a feisty 5–0 defeat at Middesbrough. In December 1936 Carter received the usual benefit cheque of £650 for 5 years' service with the club. It was to rankle him that despite a long career it was the only benefit cheque he was to receive as he never did 5 years continuous service again. He followed that up with victory in the 1937 FA Cup final, scoring the second Sunderland goal in a 3–1 win over Preston North End. The Second World War left him bereft of many of his peak years, like many great players of his age. Afterwards he picked up another Cup winners medal with Derby in 1946, becoming the only player to win Cup winners medals both before and after the war. In November 1945 Carter was transfer listed by Sunderland after the club refused his request for a new 10-year contract. A number of clubs expressed an interest. On 21 December 1945 Carter joined Derby County for £6,000 minutes before the FA Cup transfer deadline. On 31 August 1946, Carter made his Football League debut for Derby at Sunderland. He later played for Hull City and Cork Athletic. In February 1953, Carter signed a short term playing contract with Cork Athletic. The terms were £50 per match plus expenses compared to the £14 maximum wage in England. He was able to live in Hull and fly to Ireland every weekend for matches. He scored twice on his debut on 8 February 1953 against Waterford and helped his new club to do the cup double winning the FAI Cup and Munster Senior Cup. Whilst with Cork Athletic, he