Mickey Walker (footballer)

Mickey Walker
Personal information
Full nameMichael John Walker, Jr.
Date of birth10 April 1945
Place of birthHarrogate, England
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing positionMidfielder
Youth career
Sheffield Wednesday
Rotherham United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1964–1966Bradford City20(1)
1966–1968Sligo Rovers?(?)
1968Los Angeles Wolves22(7)
1968–1969Mansfield Town2(0)
1969–1970Altrincham?(?)
1970–1971Stockport County2(0)
1970–1971Chesterfield1(0)
1971–1972Macclesfield Town49(17)
Teams managed
–1999Nottingham Forest (Assistant Manager)
1999–2006Doncaster Rovers (Assistant Manager)
2006–2012Doncaster Rovers (Director of Football)
2006Doncaster Rovers (Caretaker Manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Michael John "Mickey" Walker, Jr. (born 10 April 1945) is an English former professional footballer and coach who is currently unemployed.

Early life

Walker was born in Harrogate and raised in Doncaster, and his father Mickey Sr. played professionally for Doncaster Rovers, Bradford City, Bradford Park Avenue and York City.[1]

Career

Playing career

After being told he was too short to play football by hometown club Doncaster Rovers, Walker played youth football with Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United.[2] His senior career began at Bradford City, where he made 20 appearances in the Football League.[3]

Walker signed for Sligo Rovers in December 1966 from Corby Town F.C. and made his League of Ireland debut at home against St Patrick's Athletic on 5 December.

He spent the 1968 season with the Los Angeles Wolves of the North American Soccer League, scoring 7 goals in 22 games.[4]

Coaching career

Walker has held a number of positions at Doncaster Rovers, including Assistant Manager,[5] Director of Football,[6] and Caretaker Manager.[7] A testimonial match was held on 1 August 2009 in honour of Walker; a match between Doncaster Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers finished 1–1.[8] Walker had previously been an Assistant Manager at Nottingham Forest.[9]

He was Director of Football at Doncaster from 2006 until July 2012 when he was released as part of the clubs cost cutting restructuring after relegation from the Championship.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Mickey Walker Snr Dies". Doncaster Rovers Football Club. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  2. ↑ John Brindley (1 August 2009). "MICKEY WALKER – WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW". Doncaster Rovers Football Club. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  3. ↑ "BRADFORD CITY : 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  4. ↑ "NASL career stats". NASL Jerseys. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  5. ↑ "Conference set for ignition". BBC Sport. 24 June 2002. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  6. ↑ "Rovers hand Walker new position". BBC Sport. 22 May 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  7. ↑ "Penney and Doncaster part company". BBC Sport. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "WALKER TESTIMONIAL: ROVERS 1 WOLVES 1". Doncaster Rovers Football Club. 1 August 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  9. ↑ Tim Rich (9 May 2003). "Ryan the benefactor plays leading role in Doncaster's transformation". The Independent. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  10. ↑ "Mickey leaves Rovers". Doncaster Rovers Official Site. Retrieved 5 July 2012.