Richard Walker (footballer, born 1980)

Born in Stafford, Staffordshire, Walker attended Wolgarston High School in Penkridge, playing for Penkridge Juniors until signing for Crewe Alexandra at age fourteen. After working his way through the ranks to the first team, he made over 100 appearances for the "Railwaymen" in seven years, making his debut in November 2000 as a 20-year-old. Before making his professional bow, he had been sent out on loan to local non-league side Northwich Victoria to gain first team experience, making ten appearances at the Drill Field during a six-month loan during the 1999–2000 season.

The following season, he made only a handful of appearances for Crewe, and was farmed out on loan to Southern League Halesowen Town for a month in March 2001 for more first team games.

The 2001–02 season saw Walker make only one substitute appearance for Crewe, though he was still offered a new two-year deal.[3] The following season saw him become a virtual ever-present at Gresty Road as the club won promotion from the Second Division in 2002–03. He agreed a new three-year deal in June 2003, keeping him at Crewe until the summer of 2006.[4] The next two years saw Walker continue to play regular football. He was not offered a new contract by Crewe at the end of the 2005–06 season,[5] and instead joined near neighbours Port Vale on a free transfer in June 2006.[6]

Despite a good start to his time at Vale Park, which included a goal in the League Cup against Championship side Queens Park Rangers,[7] he faded from the first team picture and was loaned to struggling League Two side Wrexham in March 2007.[8][9] His form for the "Dragons" in just three appearances impressed to the extent that Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy added money to the pot collected to pay the defender whilst at the Racecourse Ground.[10] He returned to Vale Park in the summer, but was a peripheral figure during the 2007–08 season, and was released in January 2008 after suffering problems with tendinitis in his knee.[11] After a short spell training with Shrewsbury Town and turning out for their reserves, he joined Macclesfield Town on a short-term deal in March 2008.

His form in his ten games impressed manager Keith Alexander sufficiently to win Walker a twelve-month contract in June 2008.[12] He turned out sixteen times for the "Silkmen" in 2008–09, playing against Premier League Everton in the FA Cup Third Round in January 2009. With his contract coming to an end at Moss Rose in May 2009,[13] he made contact with Hednesford Town manager Dean Edwards, who was in the market for an experienced player to become part of the coaching staff at Keys Park after Matt Elliott's departure. Despite his relative young age and Football League background, he decided to take the step down to Southern League Premier Division and join the "Pitmen" as the club's new first team coach. However he left the club by mutual consent in January 2010.[14]