Carruthers started his career with the Northampton Town youth system and made his first-team debut in 2001. He had loans with Hornchurch, Kettering Town, and Bristol Rovers, joining the latter permanently in 2005 after making over 80 appearances for Northampton. His three seasons with the club included an appearance in the successful 2007 League Two play-off Final, which came before his release in 2008. He signed for Conference Premier club Oxford United and after one season was loaned to Crawley Town. He then joined Oxford's divisional rivals York City on loan and signed for them permanently in 2010.