Carl Harris (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Carl Harris is a Welsh
former international footballer. As a winger, Harris was noted for his express pace. Former Ipswich Town
and England
captain Mick Mills
is on record as saying Harris was the most difficult opponent he ever faced.
in 1973 by the legendary Don Revie
. Harris played under the likes of Jimmy Armfield
and Jock Stein
at Leeds and alongside the likes of Billy Bremner
, Johnny Giles
, Peter Lorimer
, Norman Hunter, Allan Clarke
, Paul Madeley
, Paul Reaney
and Eddie Gray.
A week after signing for Leeds, a young homesick Harris had returned to South Wales. However, Leeds thought he was worth pursuing and sent a famous former player (John Charles
) to persuade him to return. Harris made his first team debut on 19 April 1975, as an 18 year old, coming on as a substitute for Giles in a Division One match against Ipswich Town at Elland Road
. Leeds went on to win that game 2–1, with Harris netting the winner.
Harris went on to play 156 (30 of which were as a sub) league games for Leeds, scoring 26 league goals, including ending the 1980–81 season as the club's top scorer with 10 goals. Counting cup matches Harris played a total of 176 games (40 as sub) for the club, scoring 29 goals.
Following one game against Arsenal at Highbury, where Harris tormented the home side all afternoon, he was reportedly subject of £700,000 bid from the Gunners, in a time when 1 million pound transfers were still unusual.
in 1982 in a £100,000 move to Charlton Athletic
. Following his move to London, Harris struggled with injuries but went on to play 76 times (7 goals) for Charlton, 38 games (4 goals) for Bury
, 25 games (3 goals) for Rochdale
and 16 games (1 goal) for Exeter City
. In between leaving Bury and signing for Rochdale, Harris also turned out briefly for Airdrieonians
, a club then managed by former Leeds team mate Gordon McQueen
. Following his English League career Harris finished his playing days back in Neath as player-manager of local League of Wales
side Briton Ferry Athletic
before spending four years in the Welsh Premier League.
. Harris scored his only international goal in a 1–0 win against Turkey
in a 1982 FIFA World Cup
qualifying match. He made his full international debut in March 1976 against England
at Wrexham
, some eleven months after his club debut for Leeds. Harris picked up the last of his 24 caps in another game against England, at Cardiff
in April 1982.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
former international footballer. As a winger, Harris was noted for his express pace. Former Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
captain Mick Mills
Mick Mills
Michael 'Mick' Denis Mills is an English former football full-back who, by the end of his career, had achieved Ipswich Town's record number of appearances and captained England at the 1982 World Cup.-Club career:...
is on record as saying Harris was the most difficult opponent he ever faced.
Leeds United
He was signed professionally for Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in 1973 by the legendary Don Revie
Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977...
. Harris played under the likes of Jimmy Armfield
Jimmy Armfield
James Christopher "Jimmy" Armfield, CBE, DL is an English former professional football player and manager who currently works as a football pundit for BBC Radio Five Live. He played the whole of his Football League career at Blackpool, usually at right back...
and Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
at Leeds and alongside the likes of Billy Bremner
Billy Bremner
William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road...
, Johnny Giles
Johnny Giles
Michael John "Johnny" Giles is a former association footballer and manager best remembered for his time as a midfielder with Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s...
, Peter Lorimer
Peter Lorimer
Peter Patrick Lorimer is a former footballer who formed part of the much-admired and feared Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s....
, Norman Hunter, Allan Clarke
Allan Clarke
Alan, Allan, or Allen Clark, may refer to:*Alan Charles Clark , Bishop of East Anglia*Alan Clark , British politician*Alan Clark , British keyboardist with Dire Straits*Alan M...
, Paul Madeley
Paul Madeley
Paul Madeley was a footballer during Leeds United's glory era of the 1960s and 1970s and the last high-profile 'utility' player....
, Paul Reaney
Paul Reaney
Paul Reaney was a long-serving full back with the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s.Reaney wore the No.2 shirt for Leeds and in a team renowned for its hard approach to the game, he more than held his own....
and Eddie Gray.
A week after signing for Leeds, a young homesick Harris had returned to South Wales. However, Leeds thought he was worth pursuing and sent a famous former player (John Charles
John Charles
William John Charles, CBE , commonly known as John Charles, was a Welsh international footballer best remembered for spells with Leeds United and Juventus. Rated by many as the greatest all-round footballer ever to come from Wales, he was equally adept at centre-forward or centre-back...
) to persuade him to return. Harris made his first team debut on 19 April 1975, as an 18 year old, coming on as a substitute for Giles in a Division One match against Ipswich Town at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
. Leeds went on to win that game 2–1, with Harris netting the winner.
Harris went on to play 156 (30 of which were as a sub) league games for Leeds, scoring 26 league goals, including ending the 1980–81 season as the club's top scorer with 10 goals. Counting cup matches Harris played a total of 176 games (40 as sub) for the club, scoring 29 goals.
Following one game against Arsenal at Highbury, where Harris tormented the home side all afternoon, he was reportedly subject of £700,000 bid from the Gunners, in a time when 1 million pound transfers were still unusual.
Later career
Out of contract, he finally left Elland RoadElland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
in 1982 in a £100,000 move to Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
. Following his move to London, Harris struggled with injuries but went on to play 76 times (7 goals) for Charlton, 38 games (4 goals) for Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
, 25 games (3 goals) for Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
and 16 games (1 goal) for Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
. In between leaving Bury and signing for Rochdale, Harris also turned out briefly for Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
, a club then managed by former Leeds team mate Gordon McQueen
Gordon McQueen
Gordon McQueen is a former Scottish football player, who played as a central defender for Leeds United, Manchester United and Scotland.-Early career:...
. Following his English League career Harris finished his playing days back in Neath as player-manager of local League of Wales
League of Wales
The Welsh Premier League is the national football league for Wales. It has both Professional and Semi-Professional status clubs and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. Prior to 2002, the league was known as the League of Wales, but changed its name as part of a sponsorship deal...
side Briton Ferry Athletic
Briton Ferry Athletic F.C.
Briton Ferry Athletic F.C. was a football club from Briton Ferry in Wales, playing their home games at Old Road. They last played in Welsh League Division Three...
before spending four years in the Welsh Premier League.
Wales
Harris won 24 full international caps and 1 Under-23 cap (v Scotland) for Wales, all gained at LeedsLeeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
. Harris scored his only international goal in a 1–0 win against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
in a 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
qualifying match. He made his full international debut in March 1976 against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, some eleven months after his club debut for Leeds. Harris picked up the last of his 24 caps in another game against England, at Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in April 1982.