Nicky Walker

Not to be confused with Nicky Walker (footballer, born 1994).

Nicky Walker
Personal information
Full name Joseph Nicol Walker[1]
Date of birth (1962-09-29) 29 September 1962 (age 62)
Place of birth Aberdeen, Scotland
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Elgin City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1982 Leicester City 6 (0)
1982–1983 Motherwell 30 (0)
1983–1990 Rangers 75 (0)
1986–1987 → Falkirk (loan) 2 (0)
1987–1988 → Dunfermline Athletic (loan) 1 (0)
1990–1994 Heart of Midlothian 50 (0)
1991–1992 → Burnley (loan) 6 (0)
1994–1996 Partick Thistle 53 (0)
1996–1997 Aberdeen 19 (0)
1997–2001 Ross County 112 (0)
2001–2002 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 27 (0)
Total 379 (0)
International career
1993–1996 Scotland 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Joseph Nicol Walker (born 29 September 1962) is a Scottish former professional footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for several clubs in Scotland and England. Walker was selected for many Scotland squads during the 1990s, earning two international caps.

Football career

Club

A product of Highland League club Elgin City, Walker signed 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 signed for Rangers, where he soon established himself as their first choice goalkeeper. The arrival of Chris Woods as part of the Souness revolution meant that Walker lost his place. Walker did play in the 1987 Scottish League Cup Final against Aberdeen, which Rangers won after a penalty shoot-out, while injuries to Woods the following season also meant Walker deputised in twelve games to earn a Scottish League title medal.

Walker joined Heart of Midlothian in a £125,000 deal in 1990. His time at Tynecastle developed into 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.

International

Walker earned two international caps for Scotland, making his debut in a 1–0 defeat by Germany in 1993.[2] His only other appearance was three years later, against the United States.[3] Walker was selected as a reserve goalkeeper in the Scotland squad for UEFA Euro 1996.[4]

Personal life

Walker's family company is Walkers Shortbread, based in the Speyside village of Aberlour, Morayshire, in north east Scotland. He joined the firm following his retirement from football, becoming a director.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ "Nicky Walker". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  2. ^ Zlotkowski, Andre (2 February 2005). "International Matches 1993 - Europe, January-March". RSSSF. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  3. ^ Morrison, Neil (2 February 2005). "International Matches 1996 - Intercontinental, April-June". RSSSF. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Netherlands 0-0 Scotland". UEFA. 10 June 1996. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Walkers Shortbread to expand Aberlour factory". The Scotsman. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Lotto lout Mikey Carroll is model employee, say bosses at biscuit factory where £9.7m winner now works". Daily Record. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2017.