Carlin could well have invented the term 'pocket dynamo' due to his battling performances in the heart of the midfield for numerous clubs.
He made his Leicester debut at Birmingham in October 1970 after starting out with Liverpool, his hometown club, and moving on to play for Halifax Town, Carlisle United, Sheffield United and Derby County before making the short switch to Filbert Street.
Carlin may have been 'vertically challenged' but he more than made up for that with his battling, gutsy, never-say-die performances in the middle of the park. He was an all-action midfielder who was in-demand by a number of clubs.
His stint at Leicester was relatively short, moving on to play for Notts County and Cardiff City following a year-long spell at Filbert Street which he will be fondly remembered for.