Carl Harris (footballer)

Carl Harris is a former Welsh international footballer who was born on 3 November 1956 in Neath, South Wales and represented both Neath and Wales Schools.

As a winger, Harris wasn't just quick he was sudden, arguably one of the swiftest players ever to lace a pair of football boots. Former Ipswich Town and England captain Mick Mills is on record as saying Harris was the most difficult opponent he ever faced.

Signed professionally for Leeds United in 1973 by the legendary Don Revie, Harris played under the likes of Jimmy Armfield and Jock Stein at Leeds and alongside the likes of Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles, Peter Lorimer, Norman Hunter, Allan Clarke, Paul Madeley, Paul Reaney, Eddie Gray etc.

Harris made his first team debut on April 19th 1975, as an 18 year old, coming on as a substitute for Giles in a Division One League match v Ipswich Town at Elland Road. Leeds went on to win that game 2-1 with Harris netting the winner.

A week after signing for Leeds a young homesick Harris had returned to South Wales. However, Leeds thought he was worth pursuing and sent a representative to try and persuade the boy the go back to Elland Road... when John Charles knocked the door it was hard to refuse.

Harris went on to play 156 (30 of which were as a sub) league games for Leeds scoring 26 league goals, including ending the 1980-81 season as the clubs top scorer with 10 goals. Counting cup matches Harris played a total of 176 games (40 as sub) for the club, scoring 29 goals.

Following one game v Arsenal at Highbury, where Harris tormented the home side all afternoon, he was reportedly subject of £700,000 bid from the Gunners, in the days when 1 million pound transfers were still considered somewhat obscene.

Out of contract, he finally left Elland Road in 1982 in a £100,000 move to Charlton Athletic.

With 24 full international caps and 1 Under-23 cap (v Scotland) for Wales - all gained at Leeds - Harris got his only international goal in a 1-0 win in Turkey in a World Cup qualifying match in 1981. Harris had made his full international debut in March 1976 v England at Wrexham, some eleven months after his club debut for Leeds. Harris picked up the last of his 24 caps in a game also v England at Cardiff in April 1982.

His best days at Leeds United, following his move to London, Harris struggled with injuries but went on to play 76 times (7 goals) at The Valley, 38 games (4 goals) for Bury, 25 games (3 goals) for Rochdale and 16 games (1 goal) for Exeter City. In between leaving Bury and signing for Rochdale Harris also turned out briefly for Airdrieonians in Scotland, a club then managed by former Leeds team mate Gordon McQueen. Following his English League career Harris finished his playing days back in Neath as player-manager of local League of Wales side Briton Ferry Athletic.