McCarrick was born in Liverpool . When he left school in 1985 he joined West Bromwich Albion as an apprentice but never signed professional forms with the club . He played abroad before signing for Witton Albion in 1982 , and turned professional with Birmingham City in May 1983 . McCarrick made his debut for the club on 6 September 1983 as a substitute for Tony Rees in a 1 – 0 home win against Stoke City in the First Division . He played fairly regularly in the second half of the 1983 – 84 season , but his lack of pace was exposed by John Barnes in the FA Cup quarter final against Watford , and he was allowed to leave for Third Division club Lincoln City in July 1984 for a fee of £ 4,000 . He played 53 games in all competitions for Lincoln , of which 44 came in the Third Division . In May 1985 he was a member of the Lincoln City team playing Bradford City at Valley Parade when a stand caught fire and 56 spectators were killed . From February 1986 he played for Crewe Alexandra on a non-contract basis , then in Finland with Koparit and in non-league football with Runcorn , before Tranmere Rovers took him back to the Football League for a fee of £ 5,000
stand caught fire
Bradford City stadium fire
Mark McCarrick