Carlyle, nicknamed 'Storky', played for Derry City in the League of Ireland and was an important member of their historic treble-winning squad in the 1988–89 season.
In June 1989 after a trial at Liverpool he represented the League of Ireland in a quadrangular international tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.
[1] He scored what is remembered as a great goal on a momentous European Cup occasion in the Brandywell against Benfica when he drilled a shot past the keeper into the roof of the net.
He made his League of Ireland debut for Derry at Cobh Ramblers on 19 October 1986 after moving from Coleraine.
His older brother Hilary played for Finn Harps, Dundalk (where he scored in the European Cup) and in the North American Soccer League.