Ray Walker (footballer, born 1963): Difference between revisions

{{EngvarB|date=JulyJanuary 20132023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=JulyJanuary 20132023}}

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dunk |first1=Peter |title=Rothmans football yearbook 1987-88 |date=1987 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |isbn=978-0356143545 |page=294 |url=https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00lond/page/294/mode/2up/search/port+vale |accessdateaccess-date=14 April 2020}}</ref>

| youthyears1 = 1979–1981| youthclubs1 = [[Aston Villa Under-21s and Academy|Aston youthclubs1 = Nottingham BoysVilla]]

| years5 = 1997–1998| clubs5 = [[Leek Town F.C.|Leek Town]] | caps5 = 3536| goals5 = 51

| totalcaps = 429430+| totalgoals = 3935+

| nationalyears1 = 1981| nationalteam1 = [[England national under-18 football team|England Youth]] | nationalcaps1 = 4| nationalgoals1 =0

| manageryears1 = 1998 | managerclubs1 = [[Leek Town F.C.|Leek Town]] ([[caretaker- manager|caretaker]])

'''Raymond Walker''' (born 28 September 1963) is an English former professional [[Associationassociation football|footballfootballer]] who played as a [[midfielder]]. He played 440 games for [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in [[History of Port Vale F.C.|the club's history]].<ref name="Eng">{{cite web|url=http://www.football-england.com/ray_walker.html|title=Ray Walker – Player Profile|work=football-england.com|accessdateaccess-date=28 May 2009}}</ref> He was twice the club's [[Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year|player of the season]],. andHe was named on the [[PFA Team of the Year]] three times. He was [[Promotion and relegation|promoted]] twice with the club and also played a part in the club's highest -ever post-war finish in the [[English Football League]]. With [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in the early '80s, he joined [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] in 1986, after a short [[Loan (sports)|loan]] spell in 1984. After eleven years at [[Vale Park]], he went into [[non-leagueLeague football]] with [[Leek Town F.C.|Leek Town]] and [[Newcastle Town F.C.|Newcastle Town]].

==Playing careerCareer==

Walker joined [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] as an apprentice in July 1979, and turned professional in September 1981.<ref name="avfc">{{cite web|title=Aston Villa Player Database|url=http://www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com/1379.html|website=www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com|accessdateaccess-date=18 October 2016}}</ref> He madewon the [[FA Youth Cup]] in 1980, when Villa defeated [[Manchester City F.C. EDS and Academy|Manchester City]] 3–2.<ref name="avfc"/><ref name="beano2">{{cite journal |title=Ray Walker |journal=The Vale Park Beano |volume=87}}</ref> He found it impossible to break into the first-team at a club that had just won the [[1982 European Cup final]].<ref name="beano2"/> He did, though make his [[Football League First Division|First Division]] debut in the [[1982–83 in English football|1982–83]] season againstin a 2–0 defeat at [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]].<ref name="Eng" /> He featured under both [[Tony Barton (footballer)|Tony Barton]] and [[Graham Turner]], but never got an extended run in the team.<ref name="beano2"/>

HeWalker was loaned[[Loan (sports)|loan]]ed to [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] for two months at the start of the [[1984–85 Port Vale F.C. season|1984–85]] season. He played fifteen games for [[John Rudge]]'s side, scoring his first goal in professional football on 15 September, in a 3–1 win over [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]] at [[Plainmoor]]. He returned to [[Villa Park]] but failed to establishedestablish himself in the first -team. He returned to Port Vale (now in the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]) on a permanent basispermanently in July 1986 for a fee of £12,000, plus 50% of any future sale above that amount (a fee settled by a tribunal).<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories|publisher=Witan Books|date=December 1991|pages=262|isbn=0-9508981-6-3}}</ref><ref name="Kent" /> Aston Villa had demanded £25,000, whilst Port Vale could only afford to go to a maximum of £20,000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Trying to keep season-ticket holders in a huge summer |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/trying-to-keep-season-ticket-holders |access-date=14 May 2024 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=13 May 2024}}</ref> He played 54 games in [[1986–87 Port Vale F.C. season|1986–87]], scoring five goals. He was voted [[Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year|Player of the Year]] by the club's supporters in [[1987–88 Port Vale F.C. season|1987–88]],<ref name="poty"/> and was also selected by the [[Professional Footballers' Association|PFA]] for the Third Division [[PFA Team of the Year|Team of the Year]].<ref name="Kent">{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Personalities|publisher=Witan Books|page=300|year=1996|isbn=0-9529152-0-0|url=https://www.amazon.ca/Port-Vale-Personalities-Jeff-Kent/dp/0952915200}}</ref> These awards were handed to him for his performances during his 53-game season, with one of his seven goals coming from a long-range effort against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in a celebrated [[FA Cup]] Fourth Round upset.<ref name="Eng" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fielding |first1=Rob |title=Five great Port Vale goals |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2017/03/five-great-port-vale-goals/ |access-date=5 June 2020 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=4 March 2017}}</ref> He handed in a [[Transfer (association football)|transfer]] request in June 1988, following rumours that the club had turned down an offer of £150,000 from [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]; his request was rejected – much to the disappointment of [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] [[Manager (association football)|manager]] [[Mick Mills]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Promotion Chronicle 1988–1989: Back to Where We Once Belonged!|page=22|publisher=Witan Books|year=1989|isbn=0-9508981-3-9}}</ref>

HisRudge partnershipclaimed inthat midfieldWalker withand [[Robbie Earle]] had one of the best-ever midfield partnerships at the Vale.<ref name="ovf2">{{cite news |title=The 'lost' Robbie Earle interview |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2013/01/lost-robbie-earle-interview/ |access-date=6 June 2020 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=27 January 2013}}</ref> The pair helped the club win [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] in [[1988–89 Port Vale F.C. season|1988–89]], both men being key players in the [[1989 Football League Third Division play-off Finalfinal|1989 play-off final]]. Walker was also selected in the PFA Team of the Year for a second successive season, scoring six goals in 56 appearances. Despite this, he said, "Wait until next year. I had a bad season!"<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Promotion Chronicle 1988–1989: Back to Where We Once Belonged!|publisher=Witan Books|page=4|year=1989|isbn=0-9508981-3-9}}</ref> He helped the club to survive and prosper in the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]], and recovered from injury to post 47 appearances in [[1989–90 Port Vale F.C. season|1989–90]]. He only scored the one goal, though it came at a crucial time, helping the "Valiants" to record a 3–2 victory over top-flight [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] at [[Pride Park Stadium|Pride Park]] in the FA Cup.<ref name="beano1">{{cite journal |title=Ray Walker (Part 2) |journal=The Vale Park Beano |volume=88}}</ref>

He was installed as the club's [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]]-taker in [[1990–91 Port Vale F.C. season|1990–91]], and five of his seven goals came from the spot. His performances over his fifty games resulted in him being awarded the club's Player of the Year award once again in 1991, with only [[David Harris (footballer, born 1953)|David Harris]] before him having been handed that honour twice. He was sidelined for five months with [[ligament]] damage in September 1991, and his absence during the [[1991–92 Port Vale F.C. season|1991–92]] was notable, and was a factor in the club being [[promotion and relegation|relegated]], with Vale finishing just five points from safety. He recovered to make 27 appearances over the course ofthroughout the season, his two goals from coming from the spot. Walker was involved in the TNT Tournament win in the summer of 1992.<ref name="Kent" /> He picked up a knee injury in April 1993 and although his performances [[1992–93 Port Vale F.C. season|1992–93]] saw him selected for that seasons PFA [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] side of the year, he had to undergo a [[cruciate ligament]] operation in September 1993, which caused him to miss most of the [[1993–94 Port Vale F.C. season|1993–94]] season. At the end of the campaign, though, Vale were promoted into the First Division as Second Division runners-up.

He spent a brief five -game loan period with Second Division [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]] in September 1994, but managed to win his place back at [[Vale Park]] upon his return.<ref name="Kent" /> However, he was struck down by another knee injury in March 1995. At that point, [[Ian Bogie]] was signed as his replacement.<ref name="beano1"/> Walker scored two goals in 47 games in the [[1995–96 Port Vale F.C. season|1995–96]] season, both goals coming in a 4–3 win over [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] in an FA Cup third round [[Replay (sports)|replay]].<ref name="beano1"/> He played in the [[1995–96 Anglo-Italian Cup|1996 Anglo-Italian Cup Finalfinal]], as Vale lost 5–2 to [[Genoa C.F.C.|Genoa]].<ref name="beano1"/> He made nineteen19 appearances in [[1996–97 Port Vale F.C. season|1996–97]], as Vale posted their highest ever post-[[World War II|WW2]] finish (eighth place in the second tier). He then left the club in May 1997. His many years with the "Valiants" entitled him to a [[Testimonial match|testimonial game]], which finished as an 8–6 defeat to [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Sherwin|first=Phil|title=The Port Vale Miscellany|publisher=The History Press|location=Brimscombe Port|year=2010|pages=57|isbn=978-0-7524-5777-2}}</ref> HeKnown by the nickname 'Razor', he played a total of 440 league and cup games for the club, scoring 43 goals.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sherwin|first=Phil|title=Van der Laan and Foyle stunned Rovers to help keep survival bid alive|newspaper=[[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|The Sentinel]]|date=17 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/FormerPlayers/0,,10381~535470,00.html|title=Ray Walker |date=17 November 2004|work=Port Vale official site|accessdateaccess-date=28 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bossons |first1=Terry |title=Vale Not Fail |date=2023 |publisher=Terry Bossons |isbn=978-0-9929769-6-5 |page=63}}</ref>

After leaving Port Vale, heWalker spent time as a player-[[Coach (sport)|coach]] with [[National League (division)|Conference]] new boys [[Leek Town F.C.|Leek Town]], including a five-game spell as [[caretaker manager]] from 17 March 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leektown.co.uk/info/history.php#managers|title=Leek Town FC Managers|publisher=Leek Town F.C.|accessdateaccess-date=5 February 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928120057/http://www.leektown.co.uk/info/history.php#managers|archivedatearchive-date=28 September 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He played a total of 45 games in the [[1997–98 Football Conference|1997–98]] season. Later that year he became [[Player-coach|player-manager]] at [[North West Counties Football League|North West Counties League]] side [[Newcastle Town F.C.|Newcastle Town]], where he remained until leaving to join the [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] academy in 2001.<ref>[http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6036219.Colls_face_new_bosses/?ref=arc Colls face new bosses] Lancashire Telegraph, 6 April 2001</ref> The "Castle" finished fourth in Division One in [[1998–99 North West Counties Football League|1998–99]], second in [[1999–2000 North West Counties Football League|1999–2000]] and ninth in [[2000–01 North West Counties Football League|2000–01]]. They also reached the semi-finals of the [[FA Vase]] in 1999–2000.<ref name="beano1"/>

Known as the "[[Glenn Hoddle|Hoddle]] of the lower leagues", Walker was an expert [[Passing (association football)|passer]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Earle|first=Robbie|title=Here's my promotion-winning Vale team|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Robbie-Earle-s-promotion-winning-Vale-team/story-14401576-detail/story.html|accessdateaccess-date=12 January 2012|newspaper=[[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|The Sentinel]]|date=12 January 2012}}</ref> He boasted all the qualities of a top-flight [[midfielder]], except pace.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Is this the best Port Vale select team of last 50 years? Have your say |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-best-ever-team-4025394 |accessdateaccess-date=7 April 2020 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=6 April 2020}}</ref> In May 2019, he was voted into the "Ultimate Port Vale XI" by members of the ''OneValeFan'' supporter website.<ref name="ovf">{{cite news |last1=Fielding |first1=Rob |title=This is the OVF viewers all-time Port Vale XI |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2019/05/this-is-the-ovf-viewers-all-time-port-vale-xi/ |access-date=4 June 2020 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=26 May 2019}}</ref>

As of June 2011, Walker was working as Football in the Community Officer for [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crewealex.net/page/WhosWho|title=Who's Who at the Alex|date=10 June 2011|work=crewealex.net|accessdateaccess-date=21 October 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603124400/http://www.crewealex.net/page/WhosWho|archivedatearchive-date=3 June 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

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[[Category:SportspeopleFootballers from North Shields]]

[[Category:English men's footballers]]

[[Category:AssociationEngland footballmen's midfieldersyouth international footballers]]

[[Category:AssociationNational League (English football) players who received a testimonial]]

[[Category:AssociationMen's association football player-managers]]