Amy Carr dies at 35 leaving the whole football world in mourning. The former Arsenal, Chelsea and England goalkeeper passed away on Friday, March 13, 2026, after battling a high-grade brain tumour for over a decade. Brain Tumour Research, the charity she proudly championed, confirmed the heartbreaking news on social media earlier today.
Amy Carr Dies at 35: A Football Career Cut Short
Amy Carr was more than just a goalkeeper. She was a trailblazer in the women’s game, earning 16 caps for England at youth level and working her way up through the national age groups to the Under-19s. At club level, she represented Chelsea Women, Arsenal Women and Reading Women three of the most prominent clubs in English women’s football before her playing career was cruelly interrupted by illness.
She had also studied and played abroad, securing a scholarship in the United States and representing a club in Norway, showing the kind of drive and ambition that defined her both on and off the pitch.
How It All Started: A Spider, a Blackout and a Golf Ball-Sized Tumour
The discovery of Amy’s illness came through one of the most unexpected moments imaginable. In 2015, she fainted at home after being startled by a spider an extreme reaction that led her to seek medical attention. An MRI scan revealed what doctors described as a tumour the size of a golf ball. She was subsequently diagnosed with a high-grade brain tumour, a condition she would carry and fight with extraordinary grace for the next eleven years.
Rather than retreat quietly, Amy became one of the most visible advocates for brain tumour awareness in British sport. In 2024, she laced up her trainers and completed the Dublin Marathon not for herself, but to raise money for research. She ultimately collected an extraordinary £28,718 through her JustGiving page, funds that will continue supporting scientists working to find better treatments and, one day, a cure.
Tributes Pour In From Football and Beyond
Reactions from the football community have been swift and deeply heartfelt. Chelsea FC, Arsenal and the Football Association all paid tribute to a woman who represented their clubs with distinction and whose courage after her diagnosis inspired thousands.
Brain Tumour Research’s statement captured the sentiment across the board: “Amy showed incredible strength and determination… our thoughts are with her family, friends and everyone who loved her. We are so grateful for the awareness she raised and the difference she made.”
A celebration of Amy’s life is scheduled to take place in Hertfordshire on March 23, 2026. Those who wish to honour her memory can still donate through her JustGiving page, with all funds going directly to Brain Tumour Research.
Amy Carr played football. She fought illness. She ran marathons. She raised money. She never stopped. At 35, her story deserves to be told far and wide because the way she lived it was nothing short of remarkable. May she rest in perfect peace.
