Alex McCarthy
Encyclopedia
Alex Simon McCarthy is an English footballer who plays for Leeds United
as a goalkeeper on loan from Reading
.
academy, joined Conference National
team Cambridge United
on work experience on 26 March 2008 and made his debut two days later in a 3–0 defeat to Kidderminster Harriers
. He joined Aldershot Town
on a month's loan
on 2 February 2009. His debut came in a 3–2 defeat to Exeter City
in League Two
on 14 February. He started just three matches for The Shots
before returning to his parent club prematurely, due to the injury of Marcus Hahnemann
and so was required as backup to Adam Federici
.
At the start of the 2009–10 season McCarthy was loaned to League One
team Yeovil
until January 2010. He received the first sending off of his career after a challenge against Stockport County
's Nicholas Bignall
, who incidentally was also on loan to his respective club from Reading. During his loan spell at Yeovil, McCarthy played 44 of their 46 league games keeping all 12 of their clean sheets. He was loaned out to Brentford again for the first month of the 2010-2011 season before returning to the Madejski Stadium with Ben Hamer
going in the opposite direction on loan.
On the 19 February 2011, McCarthy made his Reading debut by coming on as a substitute for an injured Adam Federici
in the 84th minute against Watford
. The final score was 1-1 after Noel Hunt
equalised for Reading. Federici was out injured after damaging a ligament in his knee. As a result, McCarthy got a long run of games including appearances in the FA Cup
against Everton
at Goodison Park
and Manchester City
at Eastlands
. Three days later McCarthy made his full debut against Millwall
. The game finished as a 2-1 win for the Royals. McCarthy's third Royals appearance saw him save a penalty in a 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace
at Selhurst Park
.
On 1 March 2011, McCarthy played in the FA Cup match against Everton
at Goodison Park
. Deep in the second half McCarthy made one of his most notable saves from a Leon Osman
close range shot which was later described as a lucky super save. The match ended in a 1-0 win for the Royals and during the match Kevin Keegan
described McCarthy's performance as tremendous.
On 13 March 2011, McCarthy played against Manchester City and the Royals were unfortunate to lose the match 1-0 at Eastlands. McCarthy made dozens of amazing saves including a double save from Shaun Wright-Phillips
and David Silva
. The second shot of which hit McCarthy square in the face. Alex then kept his second clean sheet for Reading F.C.
in a 1-0 at Barnsley F.C.
when he superbly denied Martin Devaney
and Marlon Harewood
after new signing Mathieu Manset
scored his second goal for Reading F.C.
.
On 4 November 2011 McCarthy joined Leeds United
on a one month loan, due to the poor form of Paul Rachubka
and injury to first choice keeper Andy Lonergan. McCarthy made his debut in the 1-0 win against Leicester City on 6 November, the clean sheet for McCarthy on his debut was only Leeds' 3rd clean sheet of the season.
and the under-21s
.
In August 2010, McCarthy was a second half substitute for the England U-21s in the friendly win against Uzbekistan at Ashton Gate. He came on in place of Frank Fielding
.
On 15th March 2011, it was announced that McCarthy was named as part of a 31 man squad to face both Denmark
in Vyborg
and Iceland at Deep Dale, Preston. If McCarthy plays he will face current understudy Mikkel Andersen
for Denmark and former teammate Gylfi Sigurðsson
for Iceland. McCarthy started his first game for the under 21s against Denmark and managed to keep a clean sheet in a 4-0 win.
Leeds 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...
as a goalkeeper on loan from Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
.
Club career
McCarthy is a product of the ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
academy, joined Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
team Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
on work experience on 26 March 2008 and made his debut two days later in a 3–0 defeat to Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
. He joined Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
on a month's loan
Loan (football)
In sports, a loan involves a particular player being allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long....
on 2 February 2009. His debut came in a 3–2 defeat to 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 League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
on 14 February. He started just three matches for The Shots
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
before returning to his parent club prematurely, due to the injury of Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Stephen Hahnemann is an American international soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Everton.Graduating out of Seattle Pacific University, he played for the Seattle Sounders between 1994 and 1996. Between 1997 and 1999 he turned out for the Colorado Rapids, signing with English club...
and so was required as backup to Adam Federici
Adam Federici
Adam Jay Federici is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Football League Championship club Reading and has featured for the Australian national team.-Club career:...
.
At the start of the 2009–10 season McCarthy was loaned to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
team Yeovil
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
until January 2010. He received the first sending off of his career after a challenge against Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
's Nicholas Bignall
Nicholas Bignall
Nicholas Colin Bignall is an English footballer who plays for Reading. He can play as both a forward and a winger.-Career:...
, who incidentally was also on loan to his respective club from Reading. During his loan spell at Yeovil, McCarthy played 44 of their 46 league games keeping all 12 of their clean sheets. He was loaned out to Brentford again for the first month of the 2010-2011 season before returning to the Madejski Stadium with Ben Hamer
Ben Hamer
Benjamin John "Ben" Hamer is an English footballer who plays for Charlton as a goalkeeper.-Career:Hamer was born in Taunton, Somerset. His family moved to Germany at the age of 2 and, consequently, he is a fluent German speaker. However, when he was 8, his family came back to England...
going in the opposite direction on loan.
On the 19 February 2011, McCarthy made his Reading debut by coming on as a substitute for an injured Adam Federici
Adam Federici
Adam Jay Federici is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Football League Championship club Reading and has featured for the Australian national team.-Club career:...
in the 84th minute against Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
. The final score was 1-1 after Noel Hunt
Noel Hunt
Noel Hunt is an Irish footballer, who currently plays as a striker for Football League Championship side Reading. His brother is Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C...
equalised for Reading. Federici was out injured after damaging a ligament in his knee. As a result, McCarthy got a long run of games including appearances in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
and Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
at Eastlands
City of Manchester Stadium
The City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England – also known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship purposes– is the home ground of...
. Three days later McCarthy made his full debut against Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
. The game finished as a 2-1 win for the Royals. McCarthy's third Royals appearance saw him save a penalty in a 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
.
On 1 March 2011, McCarthy played in the FA Cup match against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
. Deep in the second half McCarthy made one of his most notable saves from a Leon Osman
Leon Osman
Leon Osman is an English football player who plays for Everton in the Premier League. He has spent his whole career as an Everton player, though he has spent time on loan at Carlisle United and Derby County.-Biography:...
close range shot which was later described as a lucky super save. The match ended in a 1-0 win for the Royals and during the match Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
described McCarthy's performance as tremendous.
On 13 March 2011, McCarthy played against Manchester City and the Royals were unfortunate to lose the match 1-0 at Eastlands. McCarthy made dozens of amazing saves including a double save from Shaun Wright-Phillips
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Shaun Cameron Wright-Phillips is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers and the England national team. He is the adopted son of former England international, Ian Wright and the half-brother of fellow professional football player Bradley Wright-Phillips...
and David Silva
David Silva
David Josué Jiménez Silva is a Spanish footballer who plays for Manchester City and the Spanish national team. Silva is capable of playing on the wing, as a traditional number 10 and sometimes as a supporting striker...
. The second shot of which hit McCarthy square in the face. Alex then kept his second clean sheet for Reading F.C.
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in a 1-0 at Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
when he superbly denied Martin Devaney
Martin Devaney
Martin Thomas Devaney is an English football midfielder who plays for Tranmere Rovers. Born of Irish parents, Devaney has played for the Republic of Ireland under-16s.-Career:...
and Marlon Harewood
Marlon Harewood
Marlon Anderson Harewood is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Guangzhou R&F in China.Harewood started his career at Nottingham Forest. During his career there, he had loan spells at Haka and Ipswich Town before joining West Ham United in 2003 and then Aston Villa in 2007...
after new signing Mathieu Manset
Mathieu Manset
Mathieu Manset is a French footballer who plays for Reading as a centre forward.-Career:Manset was born in Metz and started his career in his native France with Le Havre AC. In the 2007–08 season he managed to break into the reserve side, who played in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth...
scored his second goal for Reading F.C.
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
.
On 4 November 2011 McCarthy joined Leeds United
Leeds 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...
on a one month loan, due to the poor form of Paul Rachubka
Paul Rachubka
Paul Stephen Rachubka is an American-English professional Association football goalkeeper who plays for Leeds United after joining the club from Blackpool ....
and injury to first choice keeper Andy Lonergan. McCarthy made his debut in the 1-0 win against Leicester City on 6 November, the clean sheet for McCarthy on his debut was only Leeds' 3rd clean sheet of the season.
International career
McCarthy has trained with both the under-19sEngland national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
and the under-21s
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
.
In August 2010, McCarthy was a second half substitute for the England U-21s in the friendly win against Uzbekistan at Ashton Gate. He came on in place of Frank Fielding
Frank Fielding
Francis David "Frank" Fielding is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Derby County.-Club career:Born in Blackburn Lancashire, Fielding is a product of Blackburn Rovers Academy. He joined League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on 28 September 2007 on a three-month loan deal alongside...
.
On 15th March 2011, it was announced that McCarthy was named as part of a 31 man squad to face both Denmark
Denmark national under-21 football team
The Denmark national under-21 football team has played since 1976 and is controlled by the Danish Football Association. Before 1976, the age limit was 23 years.-U-21 European Championship:*1978 – Quarterfinals*1980 to 1984 – Did not qualify...
in Vyborg
Vyborg
Vyborg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, to the northwest of St. Petersburg and south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland...
and Iceland at Deep Dale, Preston. If McCarthy plays he will face current understudy Mikkel Andersen
Mikkel Andersen
Mikkel Andersen is a Danish football goalkeeper. He currently plays for Reading, and has played three games for the Denmark national under-21 football team.-Denmark:...
for Denmark and former teammate Gylfi Sigurðsson
Gylfi Sigurðsson
Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson is an Icelandic footballer who plays for 1899 Hoffenheim as a midfielder. He is a specialist on set-pieces and possesses great long-range shooting ability.-Reading:...
for Iceland. McCarthy started his first game for the under 21s against Denmark and managed to keep a clean sheet in a 4-0 win.
External links
- Alex McCarthy profile at the Reading website
- Alex McCarthy profile at the Yeovil Town website