Stuart Walker (footballer)
Stuart Walker (born 9 January 1951) is an English former professional football goalkeeper and is currently a physiotherapist at Aston Villa.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Stuart Walker[1] | ||
Date of birth | 9 January 1951 | ||
Place of birth | Garforth, England | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Aston Villa (physiotherapist) | ||
Youth career | |||
Leeds United | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
Tadcaster Albion | |||
1975–197? | York City | 2 | (0) |
– | Marine | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Walker began his football career as an apprentice with Leeds United,[2] but joined York City in August 1975 from non-league Tadcaster Albion,[3] making his debut in the 1976–77 season. He played just two league games for York before injury ended his professional career[2] and he returned to non-league football with Marine.
Walker initially worked in Rugby league with Leeds and was Castleford's physio when they played on the 1985 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.[3] He then returned to football and became physio at Sunderland. In July 1998 he was awarded a degree in physiotherapy from the University of Salford while working as the physio at Chester City.[2]
He became physio at Aston Villa under manager John Gregory and after a spell as Shrewsbury Town physio[4] also worked under Gregory with Derby County. He left Derby under a cloud after being suspended along with Gregory and assistant manager Ross McLaren in March 2003.[5][6]
He subsequently returned to Aston Villa as physio and following the departure of manager David O'Leary Walker was temporarily one of Villa's first team coaches under caretaker manager Roy Aitken.
References
- Barry J. Hugman. The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records 1946-1998. Queen Anne Press. p. 559. ISBN 1-85291-585-4.
- "Physio honoured". Chester City F.C. 14 July 1998. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
- "City's Keepers - 1970-94". York City South. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
- "Shrews wait for Jemson verdict". BBC Sport. 3 February 2002. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
- "Derby sack Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. 9 May 2003. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
- "Gregory and Derby settle out of court". Evening Standard. 13 April 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2009.