Jim Walker (English footballer)

Jim Walker (born 10 June 1947) was a professional footballer who played in the Football League for five clubs as a full-back. He also had a long stint as physiotherapist at Aston Villa.

Jim Walker
Personal information
Date of birth (1947-06-10) 10 June 1947
Place of birth Northwich, England
Position(s) Full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
?–1968 Northwich Victoria
1968–1974 Derby County 42 (3)
1970 → Hartlepool (loan) 10 (0)
1974–1975 Brighton & Hove Albion 28 (4)
1975–1976 Peterborough United 31 (1)
1976–1981 Chester 172 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Walker began his career by coming through the youth ranks with hometown club Northwich Victoria. This led to him being snapped up by Derby County in February 1968, with Walker appearing 26 times as Derby won the Football League Second Division the following year. Unfortunately appearances were to be limited over the following years and he was allowed to spend time on loan with Hartlepool in 1970. He helped Derby win the First Division title in the 1971–72 season, but only made 6 league appearances.[1]

He moved on to Brighton & Hove Albion in September 1974, just 13 months before signing for fellow Division Three side Peterborough United. By November 1976 he was on the move again when he joined Chester, where he would spend the remainder of his playing career.

Walker made his Chester debut in a 2–1 defeat at Portsmouth on 2 November 1976 and he was an ever-present for the remainder of the season in the number three shirt, as Chester reached the fifth round of the FA Cup and won the Debenhams Cup. He remained a regular until February 1981, when he made his final appearance against Colchester United. Walker was soon forced to retire but he remained with the club for two years in a physio and coaching role.

Physiotherapist

Having now found his new career in physiotherapy, Walker spent time working in Kuwait and with Blackburn Rovers before taking up a physio role at Aston Villa in 1986. It marked the beginning of a long association with the Midlands side, that ended shortly before he left to become assistant manager to Paul Merson at Walsall in 2004 [2]

Walker later briefly returned to Peterborough United as a physio in 2006. He is now senior physio at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield.

References
  1. "Clough's messages, McFarland's radio agony, Durban's wise words - Derby County legends revisit the 71-72 title success". derbytelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  2. "Saddlers Appoint Walker". BBC Sport. 30 June 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
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