Richard Martin Walker (born 8 November 1977) is an English former footballer who played as a forward.
Career
Early career Walker started his career at Aston Villa in 1997. Here, he scored a goal against Arsenal, one of the highest points of his Villa career. After loan spells with Cambridge United, Blackpool and Wycombe Wanderers, he signed for the Seasiders in 2001. He helped Blackpool win the 2001–02 Football League Trophy, playing as a substitute in the final. Walker was loaned out to Northampton Town and Oxford United in the 2003–04 season, before joining Bristol Rovers in the summer of 2004.
Bristol Rovers
A natural goalscorer, he formed a formidable partnership with Junior Agogo before the Ghanaian was sold to Nottingham Forest. Walker scored two goals in the 2007 League Two Play-off Final against Shrewsbury at Wembley, as the Gasheads secured a 3–1 victory to send them up to League One.
Walker was placed on the transfer list at the end of the 2007–08 season, having scored only four goals in that season, all from the penalty spot. He joined Shrewsbury on a full-season loan in the summer of 2008, taking him up to the expiry of his contract with Bristol Rovers.
Burton Albion Following the expiry of his Bristol Rovers contract, he joined newly promoted Burton Albion in July 2009 on a two-year contract, he scored 4 goals in 35 games for the club before his release in May 2011.
Solihull Moors On 9 September 2011, Solihull Moors announced the signing of Richard Walker. He made his debut the following day in a 1–0 away win at Boston United. He scored his first goal for the club on 17 September 2011, opening the scoring as Solihull overcame Altrincham 2–0 at Damson Park.
Post-retirement After having played less than a season of Conference North football, he opted to move with his family to Devon in April 2012. Following his retirement, Walker has worked in a large warehouse for Axminster Tools.
He ended the season playing for Beer Albion in the Premier Division of the Devon & Exeter Football League, at level 12 of the league system, some six levels below the team where he had begun the year. He was recruited for Beer by a colleague who played for the team, and who convinced Richard to play alongside him. In August 2019, Walker was announced to have stepped away from the role of player-manager, staying on at the club as a player alongside his sons Sammie and Jamie.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupLeague TrophyOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAston Villa1997–98Premier League1000000000101998–99Premier League0000000000001999–2000Premier League5200100000622000–01Premier League001000001020Total29400437200409Cambridge United (loan)1998–99Third Division21300003100243Blackpool (loan)2000–01Third Division18300000000183Wycombe Wanderers (loan)2001–02Second Division12311000000133Blackpool2001–02Second Division2180000230023112002–03Second Division324301020003842003–04Second Division900000000090Total6212301043007015Northampton Town (loan)2003–04Third Division12442003200198Oxford United (loan)2003–04Third Division100000000010Oxford United2003–04Third Division300000000030Bristol Rovers2004–05League Two27101121220032142005–06League Two46203010101152212006–07League Two49165411510060222007–08League One24440201000314Total1465013562931117561Shrewsbury Town (loan)2008–09League Two27510103100326Burton Albion2009–10League Two173101010002032010–11League Two18100001100192Total35410102100395Solihull Moors2011–12Conference North510000000051Career total34787248102241121408109
Honours Blackpool Football League Trophy: 2001–02
Crewe Alexandra Football League Second Division runner-up: 2002–03
Bristol Rovers Football League Two play-offs: 2007 Football League Trophy runner-up: 2006–07
References
External links
Richard Walker player profile at bristolrovers.co.uk Richard Walker player profile at shrewsburytown.com Richard Walker player profile at oufc.co.uk Richard Walker player profile at ntfc.co.uk Richard Walker player profile at blackpoolfc.co.uk