James Walker (footballer, born 1987)
James Luke Newton Walker (born 25 November 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Luke Newton Walker[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 25 November 1987[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Hackney, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Second striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ?–2004 | Charlton Athletic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2008 | Charlton Athletic | 0 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Hartlepool United (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Bristol Rovers (loan) | 4 | (1) |
| 2006–2007 | → Leyton Orient (loan) | 14 | (2) |
| 2007 | → Notts County (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | → Yeovil Town (loan) | 13 | (3) |
| 2008 | → Southend United (loan) | 15 | (4) |
| 2008–2010 | Southend United | 30 | (2) |
| 2009 | → Hereford United (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2010 | Gillingham | 5 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Leyton Orient | 11 | (0) |
| 2011 | Woking | 5 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Dover Athletic | 27 | (6) |
| 2012–2013 | Eastbourne Borough | 15 | (3) |
| 2013 | Albany Creek Exclesior | 7 | (3) |
| 2014 | Eastbourne Borough | 15 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Bishop's Stortford | 18 | (1) |
| 2015–2017 | East Thurrock United | 58 | (7) |
| 2017–2018 | Canvey Island | 19 | (3) |
| 2018 | Maldon & Tiptree | 4 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Tilbury | 4 | (1) |
| Total | 282 | (37) | |
| International career | |||
| 2005 | England U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2012 | Antigua and Barbuda | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career edit
Charlton Athletic edit
Walker was released by Charlton in 2006, but was invited back on a trial by new manager Iain Dowie during pre-season, and he impressed by scoring against Millwall, Germinal Beerschot and Hibernian, earning a new one-year contract.
He has loan spells with Hartlepool United, Bristol Rovers (where he scored his first career goal against Boston United),[2] Leyton Orient, Notts County and Yeovil Town. He is a former England under-18 international.
On 23 November 2006, Walker joined Leyton Orient on a two-month loan deal. He scored with his final touch for the club in a 5–2 away win against Millwall on 20 February 2007. He joined Notts County on loan in March 2007 and later joined Yeovil Town on a three-month loan in October 2007. There is a popular chant that fans scream at his matches which is "We appreciate James". There are even multiple facebook groups called "The James Appreciation Club".
Southend United edit
After returning in January 2008, he was close to joining another League One side, Southend United, for £200,000.[3] However, the move was cancelled after he was discovered to have an irregular heart rhythm after he failed a medical.[4] The following month he was signed on loan by Southend,[5] and scored on his debut against AFC Bournemouth.
At the start of Southend's 2008–09 season, Walker was used as a winger rather than a striker. On 13 December 2008, in the club's League One game against Huddersfield Town, Walker missed a penalty which would have put Southend on level terms, instead Southend slipped to a 1–0 defeat. On 20 January 2009, Walker came off the bench against Leyton Orient to rescue a point in the sixth minute of injury time with an individual effort after taking on four defenders.[6]
On 22 September 2009, Walker joined Hereford United on a month's loan spell.[7] He made his debut in a 4–1 loss to Rochdale on 26 September 2009. He then scored his first goal against Dagenham & Redbridge on 3 October 2009,[8] and his second goal followed three days later in a Football League Trophy tie against Aldershot Town.[9]
Hereford were keen to extend Walker's loan but after his initial month he wanted to return to Southend to fight for his place in their side.
Gillingham edit
On 1 February 2010 he agreed to have his Southend contract terminated and joined Gillingham on a free transfer.[10] He made his debut in 4–0 defeat to Brentford.[11] Walker was released at the end of the season.[12]
Leyton Orient edit
In September 2010, Walker joined Leyton Orient on a three-month deal, which was later extended by another month. He left the club when this deal expired on 11 January 2011, having made 14 appearances in all competitions without scoring, although he was almost always used as a late substitute.[13]
On 16 February 2011 Walker joined Grimsby Town on trial.[14]
Woking edit
On 3 March 2011, Walker signed for Conference South side Woking on a contract until the end of the season.
Dover Athletic edit
In July 2011, Walker signed for Conference South side Dover Athletic after a successful pre-season trial. He was released at the end of the season.[15]
Eastbourne Borough edit
In August 2012, Walker signed for Conference South side Eastbourne Borough after a successful pre-season trial.[16]
While at Eastbourne, Walker was called up to play for Antigua and Barbuda, coming on as a second-half substitute against Guatemala in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.[17]
Walker left Eastbourne for personal reasons on 26 February 2013.[18]
Albany Creek Excelsior edit
Walker moved to Australia with former Eastbourne Borough player Marvin Hamilton to play in the Brisbane Premier League for Albany Creek Excelsior. His first game was against UQFC on 29 June.
Return to Eastbourne Borough edit
In August 2014, Walker re-signed for Conference South side Eastbourne Borough after a successful pre-season trial. However, with fitness problems and not scoring in his first 15 appearances Walker was told by manager Tommy Widdrington that he could start to look for a new club.[19]
Bishop's Stortford edit
Walker signed for Bishop's Stortford on 9 December 2014.[20]
East Thurrock United edit
Walker joined East Thurrock United for the 2015/16 season. He scored his first goal in an FA Cup tie against Carshalton Athletic.[21]
Canvey Island and Maldon & Tiptree edit
Walker joined Canvey Island for the 2017-18 season, where he made nineteen league appearances, scoring three goals,[22] but moved down a division to join Maldon & Tiptree in the Isthmian League Division One North in March 2018. He played four times for Maldon & Tiptree.[23]
Tilbury edit
Walker signed for Tilbury for the 2018-2019 season.[24] He made four league appearances for the club, scoring in his final game as Tilbury lost 1–2 at home against Basildon United.[25]
Personal life edit
Alongside playing football, Walker was working as a PE Teacher at Ramsden Hall Academy in Billericay.
In February 2019, Walker suffered a cardiac arrest and he was left with physical and mental impairments and now lives in a 24-hour care home in Southend-on-Sea. [26]
References edit
- ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
- ^ "Bristol Rovers 1-0 Boston". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 October 2006. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ^ Charlton striker joins Southend, BBC Sport
- ^ Walker move called off Archived 22 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Charlton Athletic F.C.
- ^ Southend sign Charlton's Walker, BBC Sport
- ^ "Southend United | News | Latest | Latest | KEEP IT UP JIMMY - TILSON". Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
- ^ "Walker loaned to Bulls". southendunited.co.uk. Southend United Football Club. 22 September 2009. Archived from the original on 26 September 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
- ^ "Hereford 1 - 1 Dag & Red". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ^ "Hereford 2 - 2 Aldershot". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 October 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ^ "Official Gillingham website". Archived from the original on 4 February 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ^ http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Walker-makes-Gills-debut-at-Brentford-newsinkent32555.aspx?news=sport[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Gillingham release all out-of-contract players". Archived from the original on 18 May 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ "Walker moves on". Leyton Orient F.C. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 14 January 2011.
- ^ "Grimsby trial for striker Walker". BBC News. 16 February 2011.
- ^ "Forster releases seven". NonLeagueDaily.com. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012.
- ^ "Open Day A Huge Success & Striker Signs". ebfc.co.uk (Eastbourne Borough). 5 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ "Walker makes World Cup qualifier debut". Eastbourne Herald. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
- ^ "Squad Update : James Walker Contract Cancelled". Eastbourne Borough F.C. 26 February 2013. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ "Borough striker told he can find another club". The Argus. Brighton. 7 December 2014. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- ^ "Bishop's Stortford chance for Walker". The Argus. Brighton. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
- ^ "Rocks on a roll at Carshalton". The Enquirer. 27 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 January 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "Canvey Island | Appearances | James Walker | 2017-2018 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
- ^ "Maldon & Tiptree | Appearances | James Walker | 2017-2018 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
- ^ Tilbury Announce New Signing‚ pitchero.com, 17 May 2018
- ^ "Tilbury | Appearances | James Walker | 2018-2019 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
- ^ [http://www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/home.asp?page_id=836 A Match For James], 15 February 2023
External links edit
- James Walker at Soccerbase
