Nicky Walker
Encyclopedia
Joseph Nicol 'Nicky' Walker (born 29 September 1962 in Aberdeen
) is a former Scottish
professional football goalkeeper.
Walker started his career with Elgin City
in the Highland League
before signing for Leicester City
aged 17. He didn’t settle in the Midlands though, and returned to Scotland within the year, signing for Motherwell
in 1981. Two years later, he moved again, this time signing for Rangers
, where he soon established himself as the Light Blues first choice keeper.
The arrival of Chris Woods
as part of the Souness
Revolution relegated Walker to the Ibrox
substitutes bench though, and after several seasons playing second fiddle to the England
number 1, Walker joined Heart of Midlothian
in a £125,000 deal.
Walker’s time at Tynecastle
developed in to a see-saw battle with Henry Smith
for the starting goalkeeping role, both men earning international recognition when in the Hearts first team but enduring significant spells on the sidelines. Smith eventually won the duel and, after a loan spell with Burnley
, Walker moved to Partick Thistle
in 1994 in a part-exchange deal for Craig Nelson
.
Firhill
proved a happy home for Walker, and he enjoyed his most consistent period in the West of Glasgow
. When Thistle were relegated in 1996, his form was sufficient to earn a £60,000 move to high-flying Aberdeen
. He left Pittodrie
in 1999 after he was supplanted by Derek Stillie
, winding down his career with short spells at Ross County
and Inverness Caledonian Thistle
.
Walker earned 2 caps for Scotland, making his debut in a 1-0 defeat by Germany
in 1993. His only other appearance was three years later, against the USA
, although he was selected as a reserve goalkeeper in the squad for the 1996 European Championships
.
Walker's family company is Walkers Shortbread, based in the Speyside village of Aberlour in the north of Scotland.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
) is a former Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional football goalkeeper.
Walker started his career with Elgin City
Elgin City F.C.
Elgin City Football Club are a semi-professional football team based in Elgin, Moray. They currently compete in the Scottish Third Division....
in the Highland League
Highland Football League
The Press & Journal Highland Football League is a league of football clubs operating not just in the Scottish Highlands, as the name may suggest, but also in the north-east lowlands...
before signing for Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
aged 17. He didn’t settle in the Midlands though, and returned to Scotland within the year, signing for Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
in 1981. Two years later, he moved again, this time signing for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, where he soon established himself as the Light Blues first choice keeper.
The arrival of Chris Woods
Chris Woods
Christopher 'Chris' Charles Eric Woods is a former England international football goalkeeper, who played in the Football League and Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Southampton and Burnley, in the Scottish Football League for Rangers, and in Major...
as part of the Souness
Graeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
Revolution relegated Walker to the Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
substitutes bench though, and after several seasons playing second fiddle to the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
number 1, Walker joined Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
in a £125,000 deal.
Walker’s time at Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
developed in to a see-saw battle with Henry Smith
Henry Smith (footballer)
Henry George Smith was a goalkeeper who played the majority of his career with Heart of Midlothian.He made his debut for Hearts in a League Cup win over Airdrie at Broomfield in 1981....
for the starting goalkeeping role, both men earning international recognition when in the Hearts first team but enduring significant spells on the sidelines. Smith eventually won the duel and, after a loan spell with Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, Walker moved to Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
in 1994 in a part-exchange deal for Craig Nelson
Craig Nelson (footballer)
Craig Nelson is a Scottish professional football goalkeeper who currently plays for Brechin City of the Scottish Football League Second Division....
.
Firhill
Firhill Stadium
Firhill Stadium or Firhill Arena is a football, rugby union and rugby league stadium located in the Maryhill area of Glasgow, Scotland. As of 2010 it is the home ground of football club Partick Thistle F.C...
proved a happy home for Walker, and he enjoyed his most consistent period in the West of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. When Thistle were relegated in 1996, his form was sufficient to earn a £60,000 move to high-flying Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
. He left Pittodrie
Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
in 1999 after he was supplanted by Derek Stillie
Derek Stillie
Derek Stillie is a retired Scottish footballer. He played as a goalkeeper for a number of clubs in Scotland and England before retiring to pursue a career in English law.-Career:...
, winding down his career with short spells at Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
and Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas...
.
Walker earned 2 caps for Scotland, making his debut in a 1-0 defeat by Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
in 1993. His only other appearance was three years later, against the USA
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, although he was selected as a reserve goalkeeper in the squad for the 1996 European Championships
1996 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1996 UEFA European Football Championship was hosted by England, who won the right to host the tournament ahead of bids from Austria, Portugal and the Netherlands. It was the tenth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and endorsed by UEFA. It was the first to use the...
.
Walker's family company is Walkers Shortbread, based in the Speyside village of Aberlour in the north of Scotland.