Liam McCarron

Liam James McCarron (born 7 March 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger or left wing-back for club Boston United. Born in England, McCarron has represented Scotland at under-19 level.

McCarron turned professional at Carlisle United in September 2018 and played twenty first-team games before he was sold to Leeds United in July 2019. He made his Premier League debut in December 2021 and was sold to Stoke City in June 2022. He was loaned out to Port Vale for the 2022–23 season. He spent the 2024–25 campaign with Northampton Town. He entered non-League football by joining Boston United in February 2026.

Club career Carlisle United McCarron was born in Preston and grew up in Appleby-in-Westmorland. He made his debut in League Two eleven days later, in a 2–0 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers. Later that month he signed an 18-month contract, with the option of a further year. He was given his first start in a 3–1 defeat at Sunderland in an EFL Trophy group stage game on 9 October. He was handed his first league start by caretaker-managers Tommy Wright and Paul Murray on 12 January, in a 3–0 defeat at Northampton Town, and retained his place in the starting eleven for the next two matches under new manager Steven Pressley.

Leeds United McCarron signed for Leeds United for an undisclosed fee on 1 July 2019, agreeing a three-year deal at the club. He signed a new two-year contract with the club in September 2021. Marcelo Bielsa gave McCarron his Premier League debut at Elland Road on 18 December, sending him on as a second-half substitute in a 4–1 defeat to Arsenal. This proved to be his only first-team appearance for the club, in addition to three EFL Trophy appearances for the under-21s. He was told by manager Michael O'Neill that he "would be given a chance to play in the first team", however, O'Neill was sacked on 25 August. On 1 September, McCarron joined League One side Port Vale on loan for the 2022–23 season; he became the first Stoke player to be loaned directly to Potteries derby rivals Port Vale since March 1978. He played two league and two cup games for Port Vale. New manager Steven Schumacher said that "the door isn't shut for anyone at this club... and I actually thought he did really well". It remained McCarron's only appearance of the 2023–24 season. He had impressed manager Jon Brady during a two-week trial. He scored his first goal in senior football on 24 August, in a 2–2 draw at Barnsley. He missed the second half of the 2024–25 season due to injury, and was released upon the expiry of his contract.

McCarron went on trial at Fleetwood Town in July 2025. He trained with the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) the following month.

Boston United On 24 February 2026, McCarron signed a deal with National League club Boston United until the end of the 2025–26 season. He played two games. On 21 August 2020, McCarron was called up to the Scotland under-21 squad for the first time.

Style of play Carlisle academy manager Darren Edmondson described McCarron as a "pacey" winger with "a high work rate". He is also able to play at left-back or left-wing-back.

Career statistics