Colin Walker (footballer Born 1958) - Coaching and Managerial Career

Coaching and Managerial Career

Walker spent three-and-a-half-years after his playing career ended as manager of Maltby Miners Welfare, whom he took from the Northern Counties East Football League Division One to the Premier Division. He won the Presidents Cup in his final season in charge. He had coaching appointments with Barnsley, where he held a variety of different positions from youth team coach to assistant manager. Walker left Barnsley, along with manager Glyn Hodges, in July 2003. He soon found employment at the Leeds United youth academy in addition to work at Rotherham R.U.F.C. and undertaking scouting assignments for lower league clubs while trying "to earn enough to pay the mortgage". Billy McEwan appointed him as first team coach at York City on 28 May 2005, stating that Walker would "bring honesty and commitment to the club, as well as a lot of knowledge".

He took over as caretaker manager at York on 19 November 2007, following McEwan's sacking by the club. His first game in charge finished as a 2–1 victory against Weymouth and after achieving five wins and a draw in six games, he was appointed as the club's permanent manager on 26 December 2007. He won the Conference National manager of the month award for December 2007, when the team gained 10 out of a possible 12 points in the league and made progress in the FA Trophy and Conference League Cup. He led the team to a 14th place finish in the Conference in the 2007–08 season, and also reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy and the fifth round of the Conference League Cup. During York's 1–0 defeat to Mansfield Town in an FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay in October 2008, Walker was targeted by some fans chanting his name. He was sacked as York manager on 21 November 2008.

Walker joined Forest Green Rovers as assistant manager to caretaker manager David Brown in August 2009. Walker left Forest Green in September after the club appointed Dave Hockaday as their new manager. He later joined Doncaster, who he played for during his playing career, as Centre of Excellence technical development officer.