Carr joined his first professional club, Northampton Town in August 1962 and captained their reserve side before breaking into their first team. He played 27 times in Northampton’s only season in the first devision.He moved to York City in June 1968.

later managed Nuneaton Borough until 1985 when he left to become manager of his first club Northampton Town. He led the Cobblers to the Fourth Division title in the 1986–87 season. However, the title winning side’s leading scorer Richard Hill was sold to Watford and his strike partner Trevor Morleyto Manchester City and Carr’s subsequent sides struggled for goals and went from being a free-scoring attacking side to a negative one relying on the offside trap.