OTD: TIM CARTER DEBUT

On this day in 1988, goalkeeper (and later goalkeeping coach) Tim Carter made his debut for Sunderland in a 1-0 defeat to Bristol City at Roker Park.

Tim Carter earned multiple England youth caps, the first of which came against the USSR. Games against Italy and Holland followed and that same season Carter would make his Bristol Rovers debut at just 18 years old. The next season, he made 44 appearances, earning him a Christmas Eve move to SAFC in 1987 for an initial fee of £35,000.

Carter was signed as cover for Iain Hesford and his opportunities were initially restricted. However, he did break into the side for a spell of games before Tony Norman regained the number one spot. He still managed 50 appearances for the Lads across a 6 year spell.

He found himself out on loan for half of his time at the club and in 1993, moved on to Hartlepool. It was at Millwall in Division Two where he would make the most appearances in a season for over a decade – 46 in total. He moved on to Halifax Town and retired upon being released at the end of the 1998/99 season.

After retiring, Carter coached the goalkeepers in Estonia's national side on a part-time basis and was our first-team goalkeeping coach before the arrival of Raimond Van Der Gouw in summer 2007. Following his arrival, Carter was youth goalkeeping coach.

Carter took his life in 2008, aged 40. His body was discovered in bushes by a passer-by in the Highfield Close area of Stretford, Greater Manchester. Emergency services were called, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. An inquest returned a verdict of suicide. He was reportedly struggling with personal problems surrounding his son's medical condition.

Carter was a popular man at the club, with Niall Quinn describing him as 'Mr Nice Guy'', saying his death had ''devastated'' everyone at the club. Gary Bennett said of his friends death that he “last saw him four of five weeks ago at the academy" and that he was "an excellent person to work with and an excellent friend too — his wife Gina is my 13-year-old son Andre’s godmother — so everyone is in shock.”

There were many tributes to the memory of the goalkeeper from fans and ex-players alike. His death was tragic and unexpected. His wife, Gina decided the best way to honour her late husband was to raise money for a hydrotherapy pool for her son's schools sports academy. In his memory, then chairman Niall Quinn launched the Tim Carter Charity Appeal at the Stadium of Light, stating that "Tim has been and always will be a massive, massive friend to this club".

In March of 2016, the goal was achieved. A specialist hydrotherapy pool was opened by Jimmy Montgomery and Paralympic swimmer Josef Craig at the Percy Hedley School in Killingworth. The pool acts as a national centre for Halliwick Swimming, a method for teaching disabled children.

Men account for just under 3/4 of suicide deaths in the U.K. The suicide rate for men in England and Wales was, in 2023, the highest it had been since 1999. The Office for National Statistics said that middle-aged men (aged 45 to 49) are those most likely to commit suicide. Amongst their higher likelihood of being affected by economic adversity, alcoholism and isolation, another big reason could also be that this group is less inclined to seek help.

Rest in peace, Tim Carter. The Samaritans can be reached on 116 123, day or night, 24/7.