Originally from Sussex, Ray Carter had been living in Brixham when he had a few games for Torquay United. Signing for Exeter City in 1960 he scored 50 times in 105 games before returning to Sussex to play for Crawley. 

Given his chance by Torquay United in August 1958, and with Sussex League experience with APV Athletic (Crawley) Ray scored regularly for Torquay’s reserves (including 34 goals in 1959/60) but was only afforded three Football Leagues games scoring on one occasion

Transferred to Exeter City in October 1960 in a joint-deal which also saw Graham Bond arrive at St James’ Park, Ray's debut came against Accrington Stanley in November 1960. Although he was to only play 25 league matches in the 1960-61 season for Exeter, Ray still ended up top scorer with 13 goals.

The following season he did even better as he was on target for 18 league goals although there was also an eventually-discounted 19th goal when he scored after ten seconds against Accrington whose record was later expunged. Then, in 1962/33, Ray again topped the scoring charts with 19 league goals and even managed to play part of one game in goal when City’s ‘keeper Colin Tinsley dislocated a finger.

Surprisingly Ray not only left Exeter at the end of the season, but also dropped out of League football altogether when he signed for Southern League Crawley Town. His reasoning was that he could run a sports shop in the town and build for his future.

Had it not been for Ray's goals, City would have struggled even more making his goals-per-game ratio even more remarkable.

Ray Carter died in Sussex in 2017.