Carmaine Walker
Encyclopedia
Carmaine Walker is a former English football
er, who represented England women's national football team
. A tall and powerful striker, Walker won the FA Women's Cup
once and the Premier League
twice with home town club Croydon
.
After joining Croydon in 1998, Walker won the Premier League
twice and the FA Women's Cup
once, before Croydon came under the auspices of Charlton Athletic in 2000. Walker headed the opening goal in Croydon's 2–1 FA Women's Cup final win over Doncaster Belles in 2000. She remained with Charlton and played in successive FA Women's Cup final defeats in 2003 and 2004. A long-term injury had kept Walker out of action for most of the 2001–02 season.
In March 2004 Walker scored twice and missed a penalty as Charlton ended Fulham
's two–year unbeaten league run. Charlton manager Keith Boanas
said, "She used to have disciplinary problems, always late for training. But I've instilled belief in her that she could be an England player."
Walker made a brief comeback with Millwall Lionesses
in August 2008, scoring a penalty in a 2–1 debut win over Ipswich Town.
. Her first cap came the following month, replacing namesake Karen Walker
during a 1–0 defeat to Italy
in Viareggio
.
In May 2003 Walker made two further appearances during England's ill–fated tour of North America, starting two 4–0 defeats to Canada after sitting out a 6–0 humbling by United States
. She also featured in friendlies against Australia and Germany
later that year.
In September 2003 an on-pitch altercation with Doncaster Belles' former Charlton Athletic player Carly Hunt
saw a red card for Walker. Days later the incident spilled over into an England training session, resulting in lengthy bans for twins Carly and Gemma Hunt, as well as Walker and her Charlton team mate Eartha Pond.
Walker was recalled to the National squad after serving the suspension. Her sixth and final appearance for England came as a half time substitute for club mate Amanda Barr
in a 1–0 friendly win over Iceland
in May 2004.
Women's football (soccer)
Women's association football has been played for many decades, but was associated with charity games and physical exercise in the past before the breakthrough of organized women's association football came in the 1970s. Before the 1970s, football was basically seen as a men's game...
er, who represented England women's national football team
England women's national football team
The England women's national football team represents England in international women's football. The side has been quite successful of late, qualifying for three World Cups, 1995, 2007 and 2011...
. A tall and powerful striker, Walker won the FA Women's Cup
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
once and the Premier League
FA Women's Premier League National Division
The FA Women's Premier League National Division is the second level of the English women's football league pyramid. From 1991 until the introduction of the summer competition FA Women's Super League the National Division functioned as the top league in England. Below it are simultaneously the...
twice with home town club Croydon
Charlton Athletic L.F.C.
Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England...
.
Club career
Walker began her football career with a decade at Crystal Palace. She moved to St Georges in 1996 and hit 63 goals in 84 games across all competitions.After joining Croydon in 1998, Walker won the Premier League
FA Women's Premier League National Division
The FA Women's Premier League National Division is the second level of the English women's football league pyramid. From 1991 until the introduction of the summer competition FA Women's Super League the National Division functioned as the top league in England. Below it are simultaneously the...
twice and the FA Women's Cup
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
once, before Croydon came under the auspices of Charlton Athletic in 2000. Walker headed the opening goal in Croydon's 2–1 FA Women's Cup final win over Doncaster Belles in 2000. She remained with Charlton and played in successive FA Women's Cup final defeats in 2003 and 2004. A long-term injury had kept Walker out of action for most of the 2001–02 season.
In March 2004 Walker scored twice and missed a penalty as Charlton ended Fulham
Fulham L.F.C.
WFC Fulham, previously known as Fulham LFC, was a Ladies Football Club formerly associated with Fulham Football Club. The team were dissolved as of 16 May 2006, but were later re-established with independence from Fulham F.C....
's two–year unbeaten league run. Charlton manager Keith Boanas
Keith Boanas
Keith Robert Boanas is an English football manager and the current coach of the Estonia women's national football team.-Playing career:...
said, "She used to have disciplinary problems, always late for training. But I've instilled belief in her that she could be an England player."
Walker made a brief comeback with Millwall Lionesses
Millwall Lionesses L.F.C.
Millwall Lionesses Ladies Football Club were founded in March 1972 by Patricia Maslin and Rita Bullions. In a time when women's football was almost unheard of the group of women who made up the Lionesses were at first snubbed by Millwall FC but went on to became the first women's football team to...
in August 2008, scoring a penalty in a 2–1 debut win over Ipswich Town.
International career
Walker was first called-up by the senior England team in January 2003, for the annual training camp at La MangaLa Manga
La Manga , or La Manga del Mar Menor is a seaside spit in the Region of Murcia, Spain.The strip is 22 km long and 100 metres wide , separating the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor lagoon, from Cabo de Palos to the Punta del Mojón.Historically, it was known by the Romans as Palus and...
. Her first cap came the following month, replacing namesake Karen Walker
Karen Walker
Karen Walker is a noted New Zealand fashion designer. She left school, after attending Epsom Girls Grammar School in 1988 to begin her fashion training, graduating in 1990. She has said that she started with NZ$100, which she used for material for a shirt. By 1995, she had opened two stores...
during a 1–0 defeat to Italy
Italy women's national football team
The Italy women's national football team represents Italy in international women's football. The team is controlled by the Italian Football Federation .- Performances in the World Cup :...
in Viareggio
Viareggio
Viareggio is a city and comune located in northern Tuscany, Italy, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. With a population of over 64,000 it is the main centre of the northern Tuscan Riviera known as Versilia, and the second largest city within the Province of Lucca.It is known as a seaside resort...
.
In May 2003 Walker made two further appearances during England's ill–fated tour of North America, starting two 4–0 defeats to Canada after sitting out a 6–0 humbling by United States
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
. She also featured in friendlies against Australia and Germany
Germany women's national football team
The German women's national football team represents Germany in international women's football and is directed by the German Football Association . The team – informally called West Germany in English – played its first international match in 1982...
later that year.
In September 2003 an on-pitch altercation with Doncaster Belles' former Charlton Athletic player Carly Hunt
Carly Hunt
Carly Hunt is a retired English footballer. She played as a midfielder and has represented England at senior international level....
saw a red card for Walker. Days later the incident spilled over into an England training session, resulting in lengthy bans for twins Carly and Gemma Hunt, as well as Walker and her Charlton team mate Eartha Pond.
Walker was recalled to the National squad after serving the suspension. Her sixth and final appearance for England came as a half time substitute for club mate Amanda Barr
Amanda Barr
Amanda Jayne Barr is an English football player, and plays as a striker. She plays for Sheffield Wednesday Women, and is a former member of the England squad.-Club career:...
in a 1–0 friendly win over Iceland
Iceland women's national football team
The Iceland women's national football team represents Iceland in international women's football. It is currently ranked as the 15th best national team in the world by FIFA...
in May 2004.