Carter captained Sunderland to the Football League title in 1936, at that time the youngest man ever to have captained a First Division title-winning side. On 28 March 1936, Carter was sent off for the only time in his career in a feisty 5–0 defeat at Middesbrough. In December 1936 Carter received the usual benefit cheque of £650 for 5 years' service with the club. It was to rankle him that despite a long career it was the only benefit cheque he was to receive as he never did 5 years continuous service again. He followed that up with victory in the 1937 FA Cup final, scoring the second Sunderland goal in a 3–1 win over Preston North End.