Career
Born in Sunderland, Carter began his football career with Manchester United, signing a trainee contract as a 16-year-old in July 1988. However, he was released the next month in order to join Scarborough. He spent two years in the Scarborough youth team, before making his first team debut in 1990.
Over the next two years, Carter played in 37 league matches for Scarborough, scoring three goals.
Nevertheless, by 1992, he had become surplus to requirements at Scarborough and joined non-league North Shields. He left Chester-le-Street in July 2000 to join Guisborough Town.