 Carver joined Montagu and North Fenham Boys Club when he was nine, which led to him being signed by his hometown club, Newcastle United, as an apprentice when he was 16.He signed a professional contract with the club in January 1983 but never made his league debut, and was released in 1985.Carver then spent a season at Cardiff City, making 13 appearances, but a thigh injury ended his professional career at the age of 20.