Charlie Leslie Carter (born 25 October 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for National League South club Dorking Wanderers.
Carter progressed through the youth systems at Fulham and Woking, signing his first professional contract with Woking ahead of the 2016âÂÂ17 season, during which he established himself as a regular first-team player. After two seasons, the latter of which saw him finish as the club's top goalscorer from midfield, he joined Chesterfield of the National League in June 2018. Following one season at Chesterfield, Carter signed for League Two club Stevenage in July 2019 for an undisclosed fee. Over three seasons, he scored ten goals in 81 appearances before moving to Eastleigh in July 2022. He transferred to Dorking Wanderers for an undisclosed fee in October 2023.
Carter was born in Sutton, London, and attended Cheam High School.
Carter joined Fulham's academy at the age of eight before moving to Woking aged 16, where he was captain at various youth levels for three seasons. During the 2015âÂÂ16 season, he spent time on loan at Chipstead. Ahead of the 2016âÂÂ17 season, he featured in several pre-season friendlies for Woking and subsequently signed his first professional contract. Carter made his competitive debut in a 2âÂÂ2 draw away at Solihull Moors on 9 August 2016 and went on to make 36 appearances in all competitions as Woking finished 18th in the National League. He signed a contract extension on 15 June 2017, stating he had initially found the step up to the first team challenging but felt better equipped after a season's experience.
The 2017âÂÂ18 season marked Carter's breakthrough season in terms of his attacking output from midfield. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3âÂÂ1 away defeat to Tranmere Rovers on 8 August 2017 and finished the season with 12 goals in 46 appearances, ending the campaign as Woking's top goalscorer as the club were relegated to the National League South.
Despite new Woking manager Alan Dowson expressing a preference for Carter to remain at the club for a further year to aid his development, Carter joined National League club Chesterfield for an undisclosed fee on 20 June 2018, with compensation due to Woking as he was under 24 years of age. Chesterfield manager Martin Allen had previously met Carter at Wembley Stadium during the 2018 FA Trophy final. Carter made his debut on the opening day of the 2018âÂÂ19 season in a 1âÂÂ0 away victory against Ebbsfleet United and scored twice in the following match, a 3âÂÂ0 win over Aldershot Town on 7 August 2018. After appearing regularly in the opening two months of the season, he sustained an ankle injury in a 1âÂÂ1 draw away at Maidstone United on 29 September 2018 and subsequently underwent surgery the following month. He returned to the first team on 23 February 2019, appearing as a 55th-minute substitute in a 1âÂÂ0 defeat to Harrogate Town. Carter featured consistently thereafter, making 20 appearances in all competitions and scoring four goals as Chesterfield finished the season in 14th place in the National League.
Carter signed for League Two club Stevenage on 2 July 2019 for an undisclosed fee following several weeks of negotiations. He made his debut in a 2âÂÂ1 home defeat to Southend United on 13 August 2019 and scored his first goal for the club in a 2âÂÂ1 home victory against Grimsby Town on 12 October 2019. The goal proved to be decisive in earning Stevenage their first win of the 2019âÂÂ20 season. Carter made 37 appearances that campaign, finishing as the club's top goalscorer with six goals. He scored four times in 23 appearances during the 2020âÂÂ21 season before sustaining an injury in February 2021 that ended his season. Carter signed a new contract on 26 May 2021 and went on to make 20 appearances for Stevenage during the 2021âÂÂ22 season before being released at its conclusion.
Carter joined National League club Eastleigh on 4 July 2022. He scored his first goal for Eastleigh in a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge on 16 August 2022. After featuring in every minute of Eastleigh's seven fixtures during February 2023, contributing one goal and one assist, he was named National League Player of the Month. Carter concluded the 2022âÂÂ23 season with 11 goals in 50 appearances as Eastleigh narrowly missed the play-offs by four points. He scored once in 16 appearances during the opening two months of the 2023âÂÂ24 season before expressing a desire to leave amid external transfer interest.
Carter signed for fellow National League club Dorking Wanderers on 16 October 2023 for an undisclosed fee. A week after joining, he sustained a broken wrist in training following a collision, sidelining him for two months. He made his debut in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat to former club Woking on 16 December 2023. Carter scored eight goals in 26 appearances during the second half of the season as Dorking were relegated to the National League South after finishing 23rd.
Remaining with the club for the 2024âÂÂ25 season, he was appointed club captain and scored his first senior hat-trick in a 4âÂÂ0 away victory against Chelmsford City on 9 November 2024. He scored 15 goals in 41 appearances from an attacking midfield role. This included his second hat-trick, scored in six and a half minutes during a 4âÂÂ2 win over Hampton & Richmond Borough on 18 April 2025, the fastest in National League South history. Dorking were defeated in the National League South play-off quarter-finals, and Carter was subsequently named in the National League South Team of the Season in May 2025.
Carter has predominantly been deployed as an attacking midfielder throughout his career. He has been noted for his ability to time late runs into the penalty area to exploit space and create scoring opportunities, described as combining work rate with composure in front of goal. His leadership qualities have also been highlighted, having captained both Eastleigh and Dorking Wanderers.
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