Raich Carter

Raich Carter on the attack v Arsenal at Highbury 1937

Carter was born in Sunderland, in Hendon, and was fated to be conceived in the very area where the football club was established. In fact he went to the School that James Allan, founder of Sunderland AFC had once taught at. At school boy level he played for Sunderland Boys and Durham County, before making his international debut for an England Youth XI in 1928.

At 16 years of age he was a star in the local apprentices league (he was an electrical mechanic by trade), quite a feat as he played against men much older than himself, some of them were 21 years of age.

As a youngster he stood in the Roker End and marvelled at the skills of Charlie Buchan, Bobby Marshall and Ernie England, crossing from Hendon by Ferry to get to his beloved Roker Park. The story goes that the Headmaster used to excuse him School on a Wednesday afternoon for midweek games, no floodlights then. He eventually turned to a trade at Sunderland Forge, encouraged by his Uncle, despite the overtures of then Wearside manager Johnny Cochrane.

In a true footballing fairytale Leicester City mystifyingly released him from trials at Filbert Street when he was only 17. The Foxes loss would be his home town’s gain, when in the following year Sunderland signed him up. His first full season with the red and whites was 1932/33, making his debut for Sunderland at Hillsborough in 1932, through an injury to Bobby Gurney, but ended up on the losing side 1 vs. 3.

Carter led Sunderland to their 6th and so far last English Championship in 1936. As captain he also famously led them to their first FA Cup triumph, a holy grail that had long eluded the Wearsiders. In an epic game at Wembley Stadium, Sunderland triumphed against Preston North End. He had been married only the week before the game, and as The Queen presented him with the trophy she said to him “this will make a fine wedding present”.

The Sunderland goals were scored by Bobby Gurney, Carter got the second and a memorable day was capped by Eddie Burbanks. He also featured in the team that took a third trophy from Arsenal, the Charity Shield.

In his 7 season with Sunderland he top scored 4 times, including the 1935/36 season where, top scoring with Bobby Gurney, 31 goals a piece, 24 were scored before the turn of the year.

Raich Carter with the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium 1937

Amongst his favourite Sunderland team mates were Jimmy Connor and he particularly admired the Billy Bremner like will to win of his good friend Charlie Thomson.

The war of course disrupted the life of entire continents and Raich of course was no exception. Serving in the RAF, Raich guested for Derby County during the war and signed for them in 1945.

He achieved representative honours with England 13 times, between his 1934 debut against Scotland (won 3 vs. 0) and his international farewell against Switzerland at Highbury in 1947 (won 6 vs. 0). It is fair to say that had the war not intervened that tally would have been considerably more. His 7 goals however were a fair return, and during the war he made 14 unofficial international appearances.

Of Carters 13 caps, 6 came in his time with Sunderland, against Scotland and Hungary in 1934, Germany in 1936, Scotland, Ireland and the Magyars again in 1937. The win over the Fatherland saw him appear alongside Stanley Matthews.

He reserved perhaps his finest performance for The Rams and Derby, when he played with Peter Docherty in the 1946 FA Cup Final against Charlton Athletic and inspired the 4 vs. 1 demolition of The Addicks. A keen cricketer he also turned his arm for Derbyshire that summer.

In a brief career with Cork Athletic he triumphed in the FA of Ireland Cup, with a winners medal in 1953, moved to Leeds United thereafter, winning promotion with The Peacocks in 1956. In 1960 he took over the managerial helm at Mansfield Town, where for 3 years he enjoyed some notable results. 1963 saw a move nearer home, up the A19 to Middlesbrough. His time on Teesside was not enjoyable for him and dismissed in world cup from his duties he played no direct part in the game after that.

At the end of his playing career he was appointed, in 1968, to the Pools Panel, where along with 5 other “experts” decided the fate of millions of “coupons”, predicting the results of matches cancelled due to inclement weather. This kept him in touch with his beloved game, but would never, of course, replace what had been a glittering career.

Whilst internationally his career spanned 14 years, his club impact lasted more than 20 from his league debut in 1932 to his eventual retirement in 1953. Over 450 league appearances and 216 goals were testament to his talent and durability.

A true giant of the English and Wearside game he spent his last years living quietly near Hull and died having suffered a stroke. He was survived by his widow Pat, two daughters and a son.

The local boy, born at the very heart of where Sunderland AFC was formed; Raich Carter in most people’s eyes was the greatest player ever to wear the famous red and white stripes. Only Bobby Gurney and Charlie Buchan could argue with that assessment. Held in such high esteem by his city and his own people the sports centre in Hendon is named after him.

Horatio Carter; the Hendon and Sunderland AFC icon.