Jim Walker (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Jim Walker was a professional footballer who played in the Football League
for five clubs as a full-back. He also had a long stint as physiotherapist at Aston Villa
.
. This led to him being snapped up by Derby County
in February 1968, with Walker appearing 26 times as Derby won the Football League Second Division
the following year. Unfortunately appearances were to be limited over the following years and he was allowed to spend time on loan with Hartlepool
in 1970.
He moved on to Brighton & Hove Albion
in September 1974, just 13 months before signing for fellow Division Three side Peterborough United
. By November 1976 he was on the move again when he joined Chester City
, where he would spend the remainder of his playing career.
Walker made his Chester debut in a 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth
on November 2, 1976 and he was an ever-present for the remainder of the season in the number three shirt, as Chester reached the fifth round of the FA Cup
and won the Debenhams Cup
. He remained a regular until February 1981, when he made his final appearance against Colchester United
. Walker was soon forced to retire but he remained with the club for two years in a physio and coaching role.
and with Blackburn Rovers
before taking up a physio role at Aston Villa
in 1986. It marked the beginning of a long association with the Midlands side, that ended shortly before he left to become assistant manager to Paul Merson
at Walsall
in 2004
Walker later briefly returned to Peterborough United
as a physio in 2006.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for five clubs as a full-back. He also had a long stint as physiotherapist at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
.
Playing career
Walker began his career by coming through the youth ranks with hometown club Northwich VictoriaNorthwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
. This led to him being snapped up by Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in February 1968, with Walker appearing 26 times as Derby won the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
the following year. Unfortunately appearances were to be limited over the following years and he was allowed to spend time on loan with Hartlepool
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
in 1970.
He moved on to Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
in September 1974, just 13 months before signing for fellow Division Three side Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
. By November 1976 he was on the move again when he joined Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, where he would spend the remainder of his playing career.
Walker made his Chester debut in a 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on November 2, 1976 and he was an ever-present for the remainder of the season in the number three shirt, as Chester reached the fifth round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
and won the Debenhams Cup
Debenhams Cup
The Debenhams Cup was one of several short-lived football competitions introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, along with the Watney Cup, Texaco Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup, the Screen Sport Super Cup and Simod Cup...
. He remained a regular until February 1981, when he made his final appearance against Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
. Walker was soon forced to retire but he remained with the club for two years in a physio and coaching role.
Physiotherapist
Having now found his new career in physiotherapy, Walker spent time working in KuwaitKuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and with Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
before taking up a physio role at Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in 1986. It marked the beginning of a long association with the Midlands side, that ended shortly before he left to become assistant manager to Paul Merson
Paul Merson
Paul Charles Merson is a retired English football player, and former player-manager of Walsall. His playing career has included spells at Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and finishing his playing career at Tamworth. He also played for England 21 times...
at Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
in 2004
Walker later briefly returned to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
as a physio in 2006.