Brad Walker (footballer)

Bradley Paul Walker (born 25 April 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for EFL League Two club Tranmere Rovers.

Brad Walker
Walker playing for Port Vale (August 2022)
Personal information
Full name Bradley Paul Walker[1]
Date of birth (1996-04-25) 25 April 1996[2]
Place of birth Billingham, England[3]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[4]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Tranmere Rovers
Number 4
Youth career
2009–2013 Hartlepool United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2017 Hartlepool United 107 (10)
2017–2019 Crewe Alexandra 28 (1)
2018–2019 → Wrexham (loan) 18 (4)
2019–2021 Shrewsbury Town 38 (1)
2019 → Wrexham (loan) 8 (0)
2021–2023 Port Vale 35 (1)
2023– Tranmere Rovers 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:06, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

Walker began his career at Hartlepool United, turning professional in July 2013 and making his first-team debut the following month. He made 123 appearances in all competitions for the club over the next four seasons, before joining Crewe Alexandra in July 2017. He spent the 2018–19 season on loan at Wrexham in the National League despite switching from Crewe to Shrewsbury Town in January 2019. Finding first-team games hard to come by in the 2019–20 season, he began 2020–21 in good form before being sidelined with a serious ankle injury. Released by Shrewsbury, he signed with Port Vale in June 2021. He spent 18 months with the club, before being sold on to Tranmere Rovers in January 2023.

Early and personal life

Walker was born in Billingham, County Durham[5] and attended Northfield School & Sports College.[6] He joined Hartlepool United at the age of 13 and would make the 12-mile round trip to Victoria Park on his bicycle.[7] Walker has two daughters and one son, as of 2023.[8]

Club career

Hartlepool United

He signed a professional contract with Hartlepool United in July 2013.[9][10] He made his Football League debut on 3 August 2013, in a 3–0 defeat away at Rochdale.[11] He scored his first career goal in a 1–1 draw with Burton Albion on 21 December.[12] He said it was a "very bizarre feeling and one I was very proud with".[9] Having scored 3 goals in 42 appearances, Walker won the Football League Apprentice of the Year award for League Two in the 2013–14 season; upon winning the award he thanked his friends and family for their support.[13][14] Hartlepool manager Colin Cooper rated him as the best player he had seen for his age.[15]

The 2014–15 season saw a loss of form for Walker and most of the Hartlepool team in general, with manager Colin Cooper and his successor Paul Murray both dismissed before Christmas.[16] He ended the season with 5 goals from 32 games.[17] Walker then fell out of manager Ronnie Moore's first-team plans in the 2015–16 season and spent time on trial at Wolverhampton Wanderers; no move to Wolves transpired though he continued to be linked to the club as late as summer 2017.[18][19] Though not named in new manager Craig Hignett's first matchday squads in February, he was soon reintroduced to the first team after impressing in training, with Hignett crediting his upturn in form to "love", saying "Brad knows what I think of him and I just felt in training that he was starting to be his old self again".[20] He would go on to feature in 27 competitive matches by the end of the season.[21]

Walker did not play a league game in the first half of the 2016–17 season, despite Hignett hinting at a possible inclusion in November.[22] He earned his first start of the season under caretaker manager Sam Collins in January, being named as man of the match in a win over Stevenage, and retained his first-team place under new manager Dave Jones.[23] He also filled in at centre-back following an injury crisis in defence, earning him praise from Jones.[24] He turned down the offer of a new contract from newly appointed manager Craig Harrison following the club's relegation out of the Football League at the end of the season and was linked with moves to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic.[25] In total, he scored 10 goals in 123 appearances for Hartlepool.[26]

Crewe Alexandra

Walker signed a two-year deal to join Crewe Alexandra, after the League Two club paid Hartlepool an undisclosed compensation package on 4 July 2017.[27] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 win over Rotherham United on 4 November, in an FA Cup first round tie at Gresty Road.[28] He scored his first league goal for Crewe in a 2–0 home win over Grimsby Town on 1 January 2018.[29] His first season at the club was described as "mixed" as he started well but transitioned from central midfield to centre-back and ended the campaign finding gametime limited after struggling with injury problems.[26][30][31] Walker said that he found it difficult to move away from his hometown club as his partner was expecting a child.[32]

Walker joined National League club Wrexham on a six-month loan starting on 30 August 2018.[33] He scored his first goal for the club with a penalty in a 1–1 draw at Chesterfield on 27 October.[34] Walker said that he was enjoying his football at the Racecourse Ground and that "I lost all interest in it really" after falling out of favour at Crewe earlier in the year.[35] However, Crewe manager David Artell commented that if Wrexham wanted to keep Walker they would have to sign him permanently as he otherwise expected the player to return to Cheshire in January with "fire in his belly".[36] Walker did not return though as he was sold on to a new club whilst his loan spell was ongoing.[37]

Shrewsbury Town

On 9 January 2019, Walker signed for Shrewsbury Town, and was loaned back to Wrexham for the remainder of the 2018–19 season.[38] He was brought to the New Meadow by Sam Ricketts, who had managed Wrexham in the first half of the season, whilst Wrexham were now managed by his former assistant Graham Barrow.[39][40] The loan spell was ended early in March after he picked up a hamstring injury; he had made a total of 32 appearances for Wrexham, scoring 4 goals.[41][42] Walker finally made his debut for Shrewsbury on 10 August, the second game of the 2019–20 season, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute during a 1–0 defeat at Milton Keynes Dons.[43] He scored his first goal for Shrewsbury in a 3–1 home win over Macclesfield Town in an EFL Trophy tie on 13 November.[44] He scored 2 goals in 23 appearances throughout the season, which was curtailed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England.[45]

After working hard on his fitness during England's first COVID-19 lockdown, he finally forced his way into the starting eleven following injuries to David Edwards and Sean Goss.[46] He was described as "Sam Ricketts' surprise package" in the early stages of the 2020–21 season after putting in a series of strong performances and said he had regained his confidence after a difficult initial season at the club.[47] Ricketts was dismissed and Walker injured his ankle in new manager Steve Cotterill's first game and was sidelined for three months.[48] Walker left Shrewsbury at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.[49]

Port Vale

On 2 June 2021, Walker agreed a two-year deal with League Two club Port Vale, becoming Darrell Clarke's first signing as manager.[50] He started the first five league games of the 2021–22 season before he struggled with a knee injury, which required an injection and time to heal.[51] He returned to the midfield three upon his recovery, though was also asked to play in the middle of a central defensive three at times due to his expansive passing range.[52] He was praised by acting manager Andy Crosby for his performances towards the end of the campaign.[53] He scored his first goal for the "Valiants" on 9 April, as his "stunning long-range winner" secured a 3–2 win over Oldham Athletic at Vale Park.[54] The club were promoted into League One at the end of the season via the play-offs, with Walker playing 28 league games and scoring once.[55] However, due to strong competition in the central midfield area, he was limited to four league starts and six other appearances in the first half of the 2022–23 season.[56] Speaking upon his departure in January 2023, director of football David Flitcroft said that "Brad is a player that wants game time and wants minutes... he hasn't been getting the game time he wants due to the form of other players".[55] He had been linked with a return to Hartlepool United, which was a rumour dismissed by manager Keith Curle.[57]

Tranmere Rovers

On 12 January 2023, Walker joined EFL League Two side Tranmere Rovers for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract; manager Micky Mellon said that "for a while we've been looking for players of Brad's size and physicality in the midfield areas".[58] He made two starts and two substitute appearances in the second half of the 2022–23 season.[59]

International career

Walker was called up for England under-18s training camps in November and December 2013.[60] However, he was not called up for the under-18's next fixture in February 2014.[61]

Style of play

Walker is a defensive, ball-playing central midfielder, though can also play as part of a three at centre-back.[62][63] He has strength and athleticism, as well as good ball control, long-range shooting and passing skills.[7][62] He is a good free kick taker and is able to emulate the knuckleball dead ball technique.[62]

Career statistics
As of match played 4 March 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hartlepool United 2012–13[64] League One 0000000000
2013–14[13] League Two 36320103[lower-alpha 1]0423
2014–15[17] League Two 28520101[lower-alpha 1]0325
2015–16[65] League Two 231301000271
2016–17[66] League Two 20100002[lower-alpha 2]0221
Total 1071070306012310
Crewe Alexandra 2017–18[67] League Two 27121103[lower-alpha 2]0332
2018–19[42] League Two 1000000010
Total 281211030342
Wrexham (loan) 2018–19[42] National League 26440—2[lower-alpha 3]0324
Shrewsbury Town 2018–19[42] League One 0000000000
2019–20[45] League One 15031104[lower-alpha 2]1232
2020–21[68] League One 23111102[lower-alpha 2]0272
Total 381422061504
Port Vale 2021–22[69] League Two 28130103[lower-alpha 2]0351
2022–23[59] League One 7000102[lower-alpha 2]1101
Total 351302051452
Tranmere Rovers 2022–23[59] League Two 4000000040
2023–24[70] League Two 0000000000
Total 4000000040
Career total 238172038022228922
  1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  3. Appearances in FA Trophy

Honours

Individual

References
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  5. Hillback, Ryan (2 June 2021). "Brad Walker finds new club following Shrewsbury Town release". Shropshire Live. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  6. Barley, Sophie (4 February 2015). "Billingham girls football team lent inspiration by footballer former pupil Brad Walker". TeessideLive. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
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  8. "Brad Walker named as Player Advocate for Her Game Too campaign". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
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  15. Owen, Danny (18 June 2017). "Brad Walker may wish he'd taken Celtic chance despite Championship links". HITC. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
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