Carl Saunders (born 26 November 1964) is a former professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...

, who spent most of his career at Stoke City and

Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers Football Club are a professional football club in Bristol, England. They compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. They play home matches at the Memorial Stadium in Horfield, they have been ...

Career

Saunders was born in

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...

and began his career with Stoke City making his debut as a substitute in a 3–1 defeat in 1982–83. He played 27 times in 1984–85 scoring his first senior goal against Manchester United to earn Stoke a 2–1. However that was a rare highlight that season as Stoke were relegated with a record low points tally. He scored three goals in 44 matches in 1985–86 before finding good goalscoring form in 1986–87. Saunders formed a fine partnership with

Nicky Morgan Nicola Ann Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Cotes, (; born 10 October 1972) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities from 2014 to 2016 and Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, ...

and he top-scored with 19 goals. However, he lost his form and in his next three seasons at the

Victoria Ground The Victoria Ground was the home ground of Stoke City from 1878 until 1997, when the club relocated to the Britannia Stadium after 119 years. At the time of its demolition it was the oldest operational ground in the Football League. History ...

he scored just six goals before being sold to

by Alan Ball in February 1990. He rediscovered he goalscoring form at Bristol Rovers scoring 50 goals in 163 matches helping the Pirates win the

Football League Third Division The Football League Third Division was the third tier of the English football league system in 1920–21 and again from 1958 until 1992. When the FA Premier League was formed, the division become the fourth tier level. In 2004, following th ...

in 1989–90. After leaving Bristol Rovers in December 1993, he had brief spells as a non-contract player with

Oxford United Oxford United Football Club is a professional football club in the city of Oxford, England. The team plays in League One, the third tier of the English football league system. The chairman is Grant Ferguson, the manager is Karl Robinson and t ...

and

Walsall Walsall (, or ; locally ) is a market town and administrative centre in the West Midlands County, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, it is located north-west of Birmingham, east of Wolverhampton and from Lichfield. Walsall is th ...

, before moving to Malta to join

Sliema Wanderers Sliema Wanderers Football Club, nicknamed "tax-Xelin" ( of the shilling), is a professional Maltese football club. It is the most successful team in Malta and hails from the seaside town of Sliema. It currently plays in the Maltese Premier Leag ...

and then Hibernians F.C., Hibernians.

Career statistics

Source: :A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Italian Cup, Football League Trophy and Full Members Cup.

Honours

; Bristol Rovers *

champions: 1989–90 * Football League Trophy runner-up: 1990 Football League Trophy Final, 1990

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Saunders, Carl 1964 births Living people Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands English footballers Association football forwards Stoke City F.C. players Bristol Rovers F.C. players Oxford United F.C. players Walsall F.C. players Sliema Wanderers F.C. players Hibernians F.C. players English Football League players Expatriate footballers in Malta English expatriate footballers