McCarrick was born in Liverpool. When he left school in 1985 he joined West Bromwich Albion as an apprentice but never signed professional forms with the club. He played abroad before signing for Witton Albion in 1982, and turned professional with Birmingham City in May 1983. McCarrick made his debut for the club on 6 September 1983 as a substitute for Tony Rees in a 1–0 home win against Stoke City in the First Division. He played fairly regularly in the second half of the 1983–84 season, but his lack of pace was exposed by John Barnes in the FA Cup quarter final against Watford, and he was allowed to leave for Third Division club Lincoln City in July 1984 for a fee of £4,000. He played 53 games in all competitions for Lincoln, of which 44 came in the Third Division. In May 1985 he was a member of the Lincoln City team playing Bradford City at Valley Parade when a stand caught fire and 56 spectators were killed. From February 1986 he played for Crewe Alexandra on a non-contract basis, then in Finland with Koparit and in non-league football with Runcorn, before Tranmere Rovers took him back to the Football League for a fee of £5,000.