# Josh Carson

Joshua Glyn Carson (born 3 June 1993) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder or a winger for NIFL Premiership club Ballymena United.
Carson started his career with Ipswich Town's youth system in February 2009, before signing a professional contract in July 2010. He broke into the first team during the 2010–11 season, and was loaned to League Two club York City in March 2013. After being released by Ipswich, Carson joined York permanently in September 2013. He remained with York for three seasons before his release in 2016.

## Club career
### Ipswich Town

Carson played for Greenisland Boys before joining the Ipswich Town academy in February 2009. He signed a two-year professional contract at Portman Road in July 2010. He made his first-team debut for Ipswich on 19 March 2011 in the home match against Scunthorpe United. Carson scored his first two senior goals on his third senior appearance for Ipswich in a 2–1 victory against Crystal Palace, at Portman Road on 9 April 2011. He added to his tally by netting his third goal within a week, as Ipswich beat Bristol City 1–0.
In February 2012, Carson signed a new two-year contract, with the option of a further year, at Ipswich. He joined League Two club York City on 14 March 2013 on a one-month loan, making his debut in a 2–0 home defeat to Port Vale two days later. Having made five appearances for York. he was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken foot, returning to Ipswich at the end of his loan. He was released by Ipswich after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent on 2 September 2013, following trials with Bristol City, Notts County and Hibernian.

### York City

Carson signed for York City permanently on 12 September 2013 on a contract until the end of the 2013–14 season. His second debut for the club came two days later as a 63rd minute substitute for Sander Puri in a 2–1 home defeat to Mansfield Town. He scored his first goal for York in a 3–0 win away to Torquay United on 5 October 2013. On 13 February 2014, Carson signed a contract extension until the end of the 2014–15 season. He was released by York when his contract expired at the end of 2015–16.

### Linfield

On 3 August 2016, Carson joined NIFL Premiership club Linfield. He made 15 appearances, scoring 2 goals, as Linfield won the 2016–17 NIFL Premiership title.

### Coleraine

On 11 May 2017, Carson signed for Linfield's NIFL Premiership rivals Coleraine on a two-year contract. He was a part of the Coleraine team that won the 2018 Irish Cup.

## International career

Carson was capped at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 level for Northern Ireland. He played 13 times for the under-21 team from 2010 to 2013. He made his senior international debut on 24 May 2011 in a 5–0 away defeat to the Republic of Ireland.

## Personal life

Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Carson attended Parkhall College in Antrim, County Antrim.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 31 October 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Ipswich Town | 2010–11 | Championship | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 3 |
| Ipswich Town | 2011–12 | Championship | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 2 |
| Ipswich Town | 2012–13 | Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Ipswich Town | Total | Total | 31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 5 |
| York City (loan) | 2012–13 | League Two | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| York City | 2013–14 | League Two | 31 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 32 | 5 |
| York City | 2014–15 | League Two | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
| York City | 2015–16 | League Two | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| York City | Total | Total | 80 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 85 | 8 |
| Linfield | 2016–17 | NIFL Premiership | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| Coleraine | 2017–18 | NIFL Premiership | 32 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 38 | 11 |
| Coleraine | 2018–19 | NIFL Premiership | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 32 | 4 |
| Coleraine | 2019–20 | NIFL Premiership | 28 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 4 |
| Coleraine | 2020–21 | NIFL Premiership | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Coleraine | Total | Total | 91 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 111 | 19 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 215 | 28 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 244 | 34 |
* ↑ Appearances in FA Cup and Irish Cup
* ↑ Appearance in Football League Trophy
* ↑ Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
* ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, one appearance and one goal in NIFL Charity Shield
* ↑ One appearance and one goal in Scottish Challenge Cup, one appearance in UEFA Europa League play-offs
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

### International

    As of match played 15 August 2012
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Northern Ireland | 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2012 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 4 | 0 |

## Honours

Linfield
* NIFL Premiership: 2016–17
Coleraine
* Irish Cup: 2017–18
* Northern Ireland Football League Cup: 2019–20
Individual
* Ipswich Town Young Player of the Year: 2010–11