Martin George Carruthers (born 7 August 1972) is an English former footballer who played as a forward for Aston Villa, Hull City, Stoke City, Peterborough United, York City, Darlington, Southend United, Scunthorpe United, Macclesfield Town, Boston United, Lincoln City and Cambridge United. He is currently manager of Basford United.

Career

Carruthers was born in Nottingham and began his career with Aston Villa. He failed to break into the first team at Villa Park and, after a loan at Hull City where he scored six goals in 13 matches, he joined Stoke City in July 1993. He scored nine goals in 45 appearances in 1993–94 as Stoke finished in 10th position. He scored eight goals in 42 matches in 1994–95. He struggled for form in 1995–96 scoring just three goals after losing his place in the side in 1996–97 he joined Peterborough United in November 1996. He spent three years at Peterborough scoring 21 goals in 67 league matches and after a short loan spell at York City he signed for Darlington.

He soon went on to Southend United before enjoying the most prolific spell of his career at Scunthorpe United where he scored 34 goals in 86 league games. Carruthers then went on to play for Macclesfield Town, Boston United, Lincoln City and ended his professional career with Cambridge United.

He then went on to play non-league football, joining Grantham Town in 2005, and then Ilkeston Town (initially on loan) in 2006. He went on to become player-assistant manager at Ilkeston, before joining Arnold Town in 2008, becoming joint manager alongside Chris Freestone two games into the 2009–10 season. They both left the club in June 2012, and Carruthers subsequently signed for Basford United as a player in 2012, becoming player-manager in 2013. He departed the club in March 2019.

Coaching career

On 20 May 2019, he was appointed manager at Quorn. At the end of November, he departed the club to become head coach at Ilkeston Town linking up with his former Basford United assistant manager Mark Clifford who now owned the club. In the 2021–22 season, Ilkeston were promoted as champions of the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands. Carruthers left the club by mutual consent on 6 September 2022.

On 15 December 2022, he was appointed manager of Matlock Town. Carruthers resigned from his role in March 2024. Following his resignation, Carruthers return to Basford United. In May 2025, he once again returned to Basford United in the role of Head of Football. On 9 October 2025, he was once again appointed manager of Basford United.

Personal life

After retiring, he became Education manager at Notts County's Academy.

Career statistics

Source:

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOther[A]Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa1991–92First Division3010001050
1992–93Premier League1000000010
Total4010001060
Hull City (loan)1992–93Second Division136000030166
Stoke City1993–94First Division345203153449
1994–95First Division325103063428
1995–96First Division243103030313
1996–97First Division1000100020
Total91134010114611920
Peterborough United1996–97Second Division144320020196
1997–98Third Division39153241304918
1998–99Third Division142002110173
Total67216462608527
York City (loan)1998–99Third Division6000000060
Darlington1998–99Third Division112000000112
1999–2000Third Division6000200080
Total172002000192
Southend United1999–2000Third Division38191000104019
2000–01Third Division3274020534310
Total70265020637329
Scunthorpe United2000–01Third Division8100000081
2001–02Third Division33132310313917
2002–03Third Division45204110305321
Total863464206110046
Macclesfield Town2003–04Third Division3984210104510
Boston United2004–05League Two6000100070
Lincoln City2004–05League Two110000010120
Cambridge United (loan)2004–05League Two5000000050
Career total41511026102433810503133

A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy, Football League play-offs and Full Members' Cup.

External links

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