Karen Walker (born 29 July 1969) is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward. She played for Doncaster Belles for 20 years, starting at the age of 15, and began playing for England as a teenager, making 83 appearances and scoring a record 40 goals until she retired from international football in 2003. Walker's uncompromising style of play earned her the sobriquet "Wacker".
Walker is particularly remembered for her performances in the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden. She finished her career with two seasons at Leeds United, and in her last game, against Arsenal in the 2006 FA Women's Cup final, she left the pitch to a standing ovation.
In 2007, she was part of the BBC team covering the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China. Later that year, she was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.
Club career Walker's neighbour, Karen Skillcorn, was already playing for Doncaster Belles and recruited Walker as a fifteen-year-old. After a period as a substitute, Walker became first choice when the club's regular centre-forward became pregnant. In a long career with the club, she eventually played in 11 FA Women's Cup finals, winning five of them. With the formation of the National Division in 1991, Walker scored 36 goals in 14 games to help Doncaster win the inaugural title. Red Star Southampton were vanquished 4–0 in the 1992 WFA Cup final as the club won a League and Cup double. Walker reportedly set a record by scoring a hat-trick in every round of the Cup, including the final.
Career statistics Club + Season Statistics - Update: 14 May 2026ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsDoncaster Belles1984-851300001+3+1985-860012001+2+1986-872736005+13+1987-8821011245+15+1988-891400001+4+1989-90000000001990-911+6713123+72+1991-9214365200019561992-931120342716+31+1993-9412355102619+51+1994-95921242313+28+1995-96 12193441219+35+1996-971013142213+19+1997-98918140010+22+1998-99662731111+24+1999-001122335919+34+2000-016711259+13+2001-0271100118+12+2002-0381000119+11+2003-0481200008+12+Total130+321+32+73+27+63+189+457+Leeds2004-051016000010+16+2005-060034003+4+Total10+16+3+4+001317+Total140+337+35+77+27+63+202+477+
International career In July 1988, Walker made her England debut as a teenager against an Italy B team in the Mundialito tournament. Scoring with her first kick of the ball inspired Walker to take her subsequent football career much more seriously.
In November 2022, Walker was recognized by The Football Association as one of the England national team's legacy players, and as the 72nd women's player to be capped by England.
International goals Since The Football Association took over the team in 1993. Scores and results list England's goal tally first. Goal Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Scored 3 25 September 1993 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana 10–0 1995 UEFA Championship Qual. 3 5 6 November 1993 KVV Coxyde, Koksijde 3–0 1995 UEFA Championship Qual. 2 7 13 March 1994 City Ground, Nottingham 6–0 1995 UEFA Championship Qual. 2 9 17 April 1994 Griffin Park, Brentford 10–0 1995 UEFA Championship Qual. 2 10 8 June 1995 Tingvalla IP, Karlstad 3–2 1995 World Cup 1 12 19 November 1995 The Valley, London 5–0 1997 UEFA Championship Qual. 2 13 23 May 1998 Sportpark Olympia, Waalwijk 1–2 1999 World Cup Qual. 1 15 13 September 1998 Stadionul Poiana, Câmpina 4–1 1999 World Cup Qual. 2 16 11 October 1998 Adams Park, Wycombe 2–1 1999 World Cup Qual. 1 17 26 May 1999 Lugo, Emilia-Romagna 1–4 Friendly 1 18 22 August 1999 Odense Stadion, Odense 1–0 Friendly 1 19 17 October 1999 Sportanlagen Trinermatten, Zofingen 3–0 2001 UEFA Championship Qual. 1 20 20 February 2000 Oakwell, Barnsley 2–0 2001 UEFA Championship Qual. 1 21 30 October 2000 Kolos Stadium, Boryspil 2–1 2001 UEFA Championship Qual. 1 22 24 November 2001 Complexo Desportivo da Gafanha, Gafanha da Nazaré 1–1 2003 World Cup Qual. 1 24 5 March 2002 Estádio Municipal, Lagos 3–6 Algarve Cup 2 25 7 March 2002 Estádio Municipal, Quarteira 4–1 Algarve Cup 1 25 23 March 2002 Zuiderpark Stadion, The Hague 4–0 2003 World Cup Qual. 1 27 16 September 2002 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík 2–2 2003 World Cup Qual. 2 See also List of women footballers with 500 or more goals
References