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Rudge claimed that Walker and [[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 Final|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.
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 of the season, his two goals from coming from the spot. Walker was involved in the TNT Tournament win in summer 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. He played in the [[1995–96 Anglo-Italian Cup|1996 Anglo-Italian Cup Final]], as Vale lost 5–2 to [[Genoa C.F.C.|Genoa]]. He made nineteen 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> 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|access-date=28 May 2009}}</ref>
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