SEAN MCCARTHY

Born: 12 September 1967

1. Came from: Swansea City   Went to: Bradford City

1. First game: 27 August 1988   Last game: 05 May 1990

2. Came from: Oldham Athletic   Went to: Exeter City

2. First game: 08 August 1998   Last game: 05 May 2001

Appearances: 176 (154/22)   Goals: 48

McCarthy began his career with home-town side Bridgend Town before a move to Swansea City, where his goalscoring record led to a move to Argyle. He became the perfect strike-partner for Tommy Tynan and banged in 25 goals in his first spell at Home Park, including a career-first hat-trick away at West Bromwich Albion, in a 0-3 win in April 1990 in Division Two (tier 2) which went a long way towards securing Argyle's safety that season.

Later moving to Bradford City in 1990 for a then record fee for an Argyle player of £250,000, he continued to score goals, finishing each of his four seasons at Bradford as top scorer. This form saw Oldham Athletic pay £500,000 for his services and he spent four and a half years with the club.

After a loan spell with Bristol City, McCarthy returned to Home Park in 1998. He had lost much of his mobility, but still retained an eye for goal and the ability to hold the ball up. After three years with the club he finished his career with two seasons at Exeter City, including a memorable red card in a Devon Derby at Home Park, tussling with Graham Coughlan in the 2001-02 campaign.

McCarthy is a member of the elite band to have scored more than 200 Football League goals in their career. Having seen the sun set on his Football League career, he briefly played for Taunton Town before moving into coaching and management.

In May 2008 McCarthy was appointed as manager of then Southern League Division One side Truro City, but in December 2009 left the club by mutual consent following a 7–2 away defeat to Argyle's future FA Cup nemeses, Stourbridge Town.

In January 2011 McCarthy was given a job as a coach at Ipswich Town by former playing partner Paul Jewell, before returning to the Southwest in June 2013 when he was appointed first-team coach at then League Two (tier 4) Argyle. He lasted until June 2015, when he left due to a backroom staff restructuring.

In July 2016 he was appointed first-team coach under ex-Pilgrim Warren Feeney at Newport County. However, Feeney and his assistant were sacked in September 2016 and McCarthy was appointed joint-caretaker manager with Newport's goalkeeping player-coach and former Argyle keeper, James Bittner. After County appointed Graham Westley in October 2016, McCarthy was released by the club.

In the 2019-20 season he moved to Pirin Blagoevgrad in Bulgaria, as assistant to Warren Feeney, and helped lead them to top-flight promotion. Despite their success, in early December 2021, Feeney and his team were released following a cost-cutting strategy at the club. Returning to the UK, after much continued local involvement with Argyle Legends and charity golf tournaments, McCarthy returned to live in his native South Wales.