Phil Walker (footballer, born 1954)

For the Chesterfield player, see Phil Walker (footballer, born 1957).

Phil Walker
Personal information
Full name Philip Leonardus Walker
Date of birth (1954-08-29)29 August 1954
Place of birth London, England
Date of death 8 July 2022(2022-07-08) (aged 67)
Position Central midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Cobham
1974–1975 Epsom & Ewell 41 (19)
1975–1979 Millwall 146 (17)
1979–1983 Charlton Athletic 89 (15)
1983 → Gillingham (loan) 2 (0)
1983 Eastern
1984 Leixões
1984–1991 Boavista 193 (7)
1991–1995 Maia
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Philip Leonardus Walker (29 August 1954 – 8 July 2022) was an English professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. He played for Millwall, Charlton Athletic and Gillingham in the English Football League. After a brief spell with Eastern AA of Hong Kong, he finished his career with eleven years in Portugal with Leixões, Boavista and Maia. His nephew is the West Ham United player, Kyle Walker-Peters.[1]

Career

Born in London, Walker joined Millwall in 1975 having played for non-league sides Epsom & Ewell and Cobham prior to that, quickly establishing himself in the centre of the team's midfield.[2] One of the first notable black players in the club's history, he garnered renown as a skilful player with excellent passing; he moved to Charlton Athletic in 1979, and remained there until 1983 when he briefly joined Hong Kong club Eastern AA.

Walker spent half a season with Portuguese club Leixões before moving on at the age of 30 to Boavista.[3] He quickly established himself in the starting eleven, and was a first-choice player for the vast majority of his seven-year spell.

After nearly five seasons with northern neighbours Maia, then playing in the Portuguese Second Division, Walker retired at the age of 41. He subsequently had a brief stint as Maia's coach in the early 2000s.[4]

Later life

Following his retirement, Walker returned to England and set up a soccer school in Wandsworth, London. He died on 8 July 2022.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ Giacomelli, Marco (15 August 2017). "'Even the Arsenal fans in the family are proud of Kyle Walker-Peters!'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Matchday programme" (PDF). Hartney Wintney FC. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Época 1984/85: Primeira Divisão" [1984–85 season: First Division]. Arquivos da Bola (in Portuguese). 24 June 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Técnico Phil Walker quer regressar às vitórias" [Coach Phil Walker wants to return to winning]. Record (in Portuguese). 25 October 2003. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  5. ^ "RIP Phil Walker (1954 - 2022)". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  6. ^ Phil Walker Football
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