JOHN CARTER

Came from: Unattached   Went to: Released

First game: 29 April 1946   Last game: 29 April 1946

Appearances: 1 (1/0)   Goals: 0

Although the Second World War was at an end, the Football League divided its competition into regional sections for the 1945-46 season because of the exceptional conditions at that time, with so many players still serving in the Armed Forces or employed on essential war work. Argyle played in the Football League South that season, against first-class opposition such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Aston Villa and Wolves. It proved impossible for the Pilgrims to field a regular side; 72 players made an appearance and performances inevitably suffered. From week to week the club called on Armed Services players, guest footballers from other League clubs and local amateurs to supplement its registered playing staff.

Carter was one of 21 players whose only first team games for Argyle were in the Football League South season and who usually played in local football or for the Armed Forces. The local press reported that the right winger had joined Argyle on trial from 'the Burnley area', and the club registered him with the Football League on April 25th 1946. He made his debut and solitary appearance four days later in a draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, a rare away point in what was a wretched season.

Whilst not definitive (and local football reporting at the time rarely used first-names) a 'J. Carter' played in the local Burnley & District Combination League for Burnley RC (Roman Catholics) in 1942. A 22 April 1942 Burnley Express report details a 'brilliant hat-trick' by paratrooper J. Carter against Hargher Clough in the league's cup competition. Within four years, shortly before his sole match for Argyle, a 'J. Carter' had trialled for Burnley's reserves at outside-right, the same position as the player who played for Argyle, in a 2-1 defeat at Chesterfield Reserves in the Central League on 6 April 1946. Later that month - if it was the same John Carter - he made he debut for Argyle at Molineux.

It is not clear how he would have come to Argyle's attention but there was, however, 'traffic' between the two clubs at that time as both Stan Dixon and Bill Hurst, who played alongside Carter at Molineux, were ex-Burnley players. It's possible, that as he was a paratrooper and a member of British ground forces, that he was stationed locally to Plymouth, but there is no current evidence to corroborate this. However, the Western Morning News of 20 April 1946 reported that he had played in an Argyle Reserve game against Exeter City Reserves. The same paper on 29 April 1946 (the day of his match for the club) reported the line-up for the Wolves match as including Carter and gave the 'from the Burnley area' citation, noting that he had played two games for the Reserves at outside-right.

Local Burnley Express reports later show a 'J. Carter' still playing for Burnley RC in September 1946, so if it is the same man, it appears he returned whence he came.