Stephen Charles Carter is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Manchester City, Notts County, Derby County, A.F.C. Bournemouth and Torquay United. He played as a winger. Carter was born in Great Yarmouth and began his career as an apprentice with Manchester City, turning professional in August 1970. After a promising start to his City career, he made his league debut at St James's Park against Newcastle Utd at the age 18, he was sold to Notts County in February 1972 for £18,000. He had scored twice in six league games for City, scoring at Huddersfield and a penalty against Liverpool FC at Main Road. He joined a County side who were newly promoted to the Second Division, and finished in fourth place at the end of that season. His right-wing trickery, and expertise from the penalty spot helped County consolidate and establish themselves in the Second Division after a long spell out of the top two divisions. In August 1978, after 21 goals in 188 league appearances for County, Carter joined Derby County, with Scotland internationalDon Masson going in the opposite direction. He immediately settled into the Derby side, making his debut on 2 September in a 2–0 home defeat to Coventry City. Carter made 33 league appearances for Derby, scoring just once. Whilst at Derby County Steve suffered a major injury to his Achilles' tendon which resulted in two operations and almost two seasons missed of his Derby career. He rejoined Notts County, by now in the First Division, on a non-contract basis, before joining Bournemouth on a free transfer in March 1982. He made 46 league appearances for Bournemouth, scoring once, before joining Torquay United, again on a free transfer, in July 1984. He played only 16 times for the Gulls league side before leaving league football, joining non-league Lymington F.C. While with Derby, Carter was on the books of North American Soccer League team Minnesota Kicks. Now living in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk. Married to Gail 12 Jan 2001
