Mark McWalter
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mark McWalter | ||
| Date of birth | 20 June 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Arbroath, Scotland | ||
| Playing position | forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Arbroath Lads Club | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1984–1987 | Arbroath | 70 | (20) |
| 1987–1991 | St. Mirren | 80 | (8) |
| 1991–1993 | Partick Thistle | 19 | (0) |
| 1993–1995 | Coleraine | 35 | (17) |
| 1995–1996 | Ballymena United | 20 | (8) |
| 1996–1999 | Arbroath | 59 | (9) |
| 1999–2004 | Arbroath Victoria[1] | ? | (?) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Mark McWalter (born 20 June 1968 in Arbroath) is a Scottish former football striker.
McWalter began his career with his local club Arbroath where as a teenager he became a first team regular. His form attracted the attentions of top-flight St. Mirren, who signed him in June 1987.[2] In and out of the team at Love Street, he joined Partick Thistle in June 1991 in a swap deal that saw he and George Shaw exchanged for Chic Charnley and David Elliot.[3] McWalter's spell at Partick was an unhappy one however as he failed to score.
After being released by Partick McWalter moved to the Irish Football League with Coleraine and became a 'cult hero' at the club.[4] He was linked with the manager's job after the departure of Felix Healy in 1994 but lost out to Kenny Shiels, a manager with whom he would later clash, resulting in McWalter moving to Ballymena United for a year.[4] He was the club's top scorer in his sole season.[5]
McWalter returned to Scotland in 1996 to play three final seasons back at Gayfield Park. Unable to cope with the rigours of full-time football due a persistent kneee injury McWalter left full-time football to carry on playing in the juniors with Arbroath Victoria. He spent five seasons with the club, including two as player-manager before retiring and leaving football completely.[4] Having retired he became a youth worker, running a project from Arbroath's old supporters' club.[6]
References
- ↑ Career statistics
- ↑ M. Gillespie, The Northern Ireland Football Yearbook 1996-97, p. 199
- ↑ David Elliot profile
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Interview on Coleraine site
- ↑ M. Gillespie, The Northern Ireland Football Yearbook 1996-97, p. 172
- ↑ Smokies get in your eyes from The Scotsman