Scottish footballer
James Wood Carstairs (born 29 January 1971) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Stockport County and Brentford as a left back.
Career
Arsenal
Growing up in Chigwell, Carstairs began his career as a schoolboy at West Ham United and then served an apprenticeship at First Division club Arsenal.[2][3] During the 1987–88 season, he was a part of the youth team which defeated Doncaster Rovers over two legs to win the FA Youth Cup.[3] Despite signing a two-year professional contract,[3] Carstairs failed to force his way into the first team picture.[4]
Carstairs joined Third Division club Brentford on a one-month loan in February 1991,[5] in an attempt to fill the club's problematic left back position.[2] His loan was extended for a second month and he made 11 appearances before returning to Highbury after his loan expired in April.[2][5] Carstairs joined Second Division club Cambridge United on loan in July 1991, but failed to make a league appearance.[1] Following another loan during the first half of the 1991–92 season,[3] Carstairs departed Arsenal on a permanent transfer.[4]
Stockport County
Carstairs moved to Third Division club Stockport County on loan in November 1991.[6] After seven appearances, he signed a permanent contract and made a total of 24 appearances during the 1991–92 season,[3][6] though Stockport were denied promotion to the second-tier after defeat to Peterborough United in the 1992 Third Division play-off final.[7] Carstairs made 23 appearances during the 1992–93 season and scored two goals.[6] He largely failed to figure during the 1993–94 season, making just one Football League Trophy appearance.[6] Carstairs departed the club during the season, having made 48 appearances and scored two goals during his time at Edgeley Park.[6]
Enfield
After his departure from Stockport County, Carstairs returned to North London to drop into non-League football and sign for Isthmian League Premier Division club Enfield in 1994.[4] He had four successful years with the club, winning the division title in his first season and finishing runner-up in 1995–96 and 1996–97.[8] He departed the club at the end of the 1997–98 season.[3]
St Albans City
Carstairs had a short spell at Isthmian League Premier Division club St Albans City towards the end of the 1998–99 season and made 11 appearances.[9]
Personal life
As of 1998, Carstairs was working as a sports development officer.[3]
Career statistics
Honours
Enfield
References
External links