Club Career
Born in Rotherham, West Riding of Yorkshire, Walker played as a trialist in York City's youth and reserve teams in 1976, after which he moved to New Zealand to play for Gisborne City in 1980 after being spotted playing in English non-League football for Retford Town and Matlock Town by Kevin Fallon. After the end of the season, he returned to play in England for Football League side Barnsley in November 1980. He scored 12 times in 24 games for Barnsley, with an additional five goals in 12 games while on loan at Doncaster Rovers from February 1983, before returning to New Zealand to play for Gisborne City. Walker reached the final of the Chatham Cup in 1983 with Gisborne. He scored twice, but the match ended 2–2, and was won by Gisborne's opponents Mount Wellington 2–0 in the replay. During the 1983 season, he scored seven goals in 12 appearances. He scored 16 goals in 22 appearances and won the country's Player of the Year award in 1984. He then scored 15 goals in 22 appearances in 1985. Overall, he won New Zealand's golden boot during three of the five years he spent playing in the country.
In November 1985, Walker returned to Doncaster Rovers on non-contract terms, playing five times before moving to Cambridge United in January 1986. He scored once in 3 games, but was released by Cambridge and returned to Matlock Town. From there he joined Harworth Colliery Institute from where he was signed by Sheffield Wednesday in August 1986. He joined Darlington on loan in December 1986, where he made seven appearances, and Torquay United on loan in October 1987, where he made three appearances. He left Sheffield Wednesday having played just two league games and after scoring a hat-trick in a League Cup tie, a 7–0 victory against Stockport County, which Wednesday won 10–0 on aggregate. He then returned to New Zealand for a final spell with Gisborne City, where he took over as player-manager, but left because of financial problems at the club. He also worked as striker-coach at the club. After returning to England for a run-out with Doncaster, he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury, which brought an end to his playing career.
Read more about this topic: Colin Walker (footballer Born 1958)
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