Nigel Walker (footballer)

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For the athlete and Welsh rugby international, see Nigel Walker
Nigel Walker
Personal information
Full name Nigel Stephen Walker
Date of birth April 7, 1959 (1959-04-07) (age 49)
Place of birth    Gateshead, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Retired
Youth clubs
c. 1975–1977 Whickham
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1977–1982
1982
1982–1983
1983
1983–1984
1984
1984–1985
1985–1987
1987–1992
1992–?		 Newcastle United
→ Plymouth Argyle (loan)
San Diego Sockers
Crewe Alexandra
Sunderland
→ Blackpool (loan)
Chester City
Hartlepool United
Blyth Spartans
Dunston Federation		 68 0 0 (3)
0 0 0 0(0)

20 000(5)
1 0 00 (0)
10 0 0 (3)
41 0 0 (9)
82 0 0 (8)

   

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Nigel Walker (born 7 April 1959, Gateshead) was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played in The Football League for six clubs and also played in the North American Soccer League.

[edit] Playing career

Walker began his career on the books of non-league side Whickham. He turned professional with Newcastle United in July 1977, making his debut in a 1–1 draw with Bristol City in Football League Division One [1]. His first goal arrived the following season against Leicester City [2]. After 81 first-team appearances, Walker departed for the United States of America to play for the San Diego Sockers in the North American Soccer League in 1982 [3]. Earlier in the season he had joined Plymouth Argyle but returned to Newcastle without making any first-team appearances [4].

In January 1983 Walker returned to England when he joined Division Four side Crewe Alexandra on non-contract terms [5]. The following summer saw him move back to the north-east with Sunderland, but his only first-team outing was a substitute appearance [6]. He spent time on loan with Blackpool in the closing stages of the 1983–84 season.

Walker moved to Chester City in July 1984, making his debut on the opening day of the new season against Scunthorpe United. He went on to score a derby winner from the penalty spot against Wrexham and a hat-trick via his left foot, right foot and head [7] in a 4–4 draw against Swindon Town in May 1985. At the end of the campaign he opted to move to fellow Division Four side Hartlepool United, where he played for two years.

In 1987 Walker joined non-league side Blyth Spartans, where he played for five years before joining Dunston Federation. Outside football he gained a first class honours degree in computing from Newcastle Polytechnic and became a maths teacher [8].

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Match Details. Newcastle United – a statistical journey. Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
  2. ^ Match Details. Newcastle United – a statistical journey. Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
  3. ^ Player Profile. Newcastle United – a statistical journey. Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
  4. ^ 'Where are they now?', Chester City v. Huddersfield Town matchday programme 27/8/1994; pg. 15
  5. ^ 'Where are they now?', Chester City v. Huddersfield Town matchday programme 27/8/1994; pg. 15
  6. ^ Player Profile. TheStatCat. Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
  7. ^ ’Where are they now?’, Chester City v. Huddersfield Town matchday programme 27/8/1994; pg. 15
  8. ^ ’Where are they now?’, Chester City v. Huddersfield Town matchday programme 27/8/1994; pg. 15