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Sam Walker (footballer)

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Sam Walker
Personal information
Full name Samuel Colin Walker[1]
Date of birth (1991-10-02) 2 October 1991 (age 33)[2]
Place of birth Gravesend, England
Height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Bradford City
Number 1
Youth career
–2007 Millwall
2007–2010 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2014 Chelsea 0 (0)
2011 → Barnet (loan) 7 (0)
2011 → Northampton Town (loan) 21 (0)
2012 → Yeovil Town (loan) 20 (0)
2012–2013 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 11 (0)
2013 → Colchester United (loan) 19 (0)
2013–2014 → Colchester United (loan) 26 (0)
2014–2018 Colchester United 155 (0)
2018–2021 Reading 7 (0)
2020–2021 → Blackpool (loan) 2 (0)
2021 → AFC Wimbledon (loan) 12 (0)
2021–2023 Kilmarnock 29 (0)
2023–2024 Charlton Athletic 0 (0)
2024– Bradford City 37 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:10, 5 December 2024 (UTC)

Samuel Colin Walker (born 2 October 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League Two club Bradford City.

Walker progressed through the youth ranks at Millwall and Chelsea, although he failed to make an appearance for either club. He was loaned from Chelsea to Barnet, Northampton Town, Yeovil Town, Bristol Rovers and Colchester United on two occasions. He made his move to Colchester permanent in January 2014. He made over 200 appearances in total for Colchester.

Career

[edit]

Chelsea

[edit]

Born in Gravesend, Kent,[2] Walker spent his childhood career playing for local club Gravesend & Northfleet[3] but was later signed by Millwall. Chelsea were given permission to speak to a 15-year-old Walker after a £500,000 bid was accepted by the Lions in September 2007.[citation needed] He joined Norwich City on a youth loan in March 2009, playing for the under-19s to cover an international call-up for Jed Steer and an injury to Declan Rudd.[4]

Walker was a member of the successful 2009–10 FA Youth Cup-winning squad with Chelsea. He and the team conceded just three goals throughout the entire competition. Having been a regular in the Chelsea youth sides, he subsequently became a regular at reserve team level[5]

Barnet loan

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Walker joined struggling League Two side Barnet on loan on 24 March 2011 until the end of the season.[6] He made his Football League and professional debut two days later as the Bees came back from two goals down to draw with Chesterfield at Underhill.[7] He was shown a red card for a second bookable offence in added time of a 2–1 home victory over Crewe Alexandra on 9 April,[8] but a 3–1 away defeat to Accrington Stanley on 30 April left Barnet on the brink of relegation.[9] However, on the final day of the season, with other results working in their favour, Barnet remained a Football League side as Walker kept his first clean sheet in a 1–0 victory over Port Vale.[10] He ended his time with the Bees with seven league appearances.[11]

Northampton Town loan

[edit]

Northampton Town boss Gary Johnson signed Walker on a season-long loan from Chelsea on 11 July 2011 following his successful stint at Barnet.[12] He made his debut for the Cobblers in an opening day 0–0 draw with Accrington on 5 August.[13] Northampton suffered a string of heavy defeats, including a 7–2 home defeat by Shrewsbury Town on 19 November with the club having parted company with Gary Johnson earlier the same week.[14] New manager Aidy Boothroyd offered the players a chance to impress him following significant defeats to Plymouth Argyle and Gillingham[15] However, on 23 December, having made 24 appearances for the club, Boothroyd decided to send Walker back to Chelsea after announcing that Shane Higgs would be his first-choice goalkeeper.[16]

Yeovil Town loan

[edit]

Walker made the step up to League One football in 2012, signing on loan with Yeovil Town on 19 January until the end of the season, once again teaming up with Gary Johnson.[17] He made his Yeovil debut on 21 January as they fell to a 3–2 away defeat at Bury.[18] With the club struggling near the relegation zone, Walker put in some impressive performances, including a penalty save against Milton Keynes Dons as the Glovers went on to record a 1–0 victory and in turn boost their hopes of survival.[19] Manager Johnson described a "horrendous mistake" by Walker in a 3–0 defeat to Charlton Athletic as a "lapse in concentration",[20] with Walker describing his own recent performances as a "lapse in form".[21] Walker retained his place in the first-team, and despite a 6–0 defeat by Stevenage,[22] Yeovil survived their relegation battle and Walker completed his loan spell with 20 league appearances.[23]

Bristol Rovers loan

[edit]

Bristol Rovers signed Walker on loan on 14 August 2012 until 2 January 2013.[24] He made his debut in a League Cup clash with Ipswich Town the same day, a match which the Pirates lost 3–1.[25] Walker made 14 appearances at the Memorial Stadium,[26] but failed to establish himself as a regular, with fellow loanee and former Chelsea trainee Neil Etheridge becoming first choice goalkeeper for the League Two side.[27]

Colchester United loans

[edit]

Walker first joined Colchester United on 14 January 2013, stepping up to League One for the second half of the 2012–13 season. Walker joined until the end of the season alongside fellow Chelsea player Billy Clifford with the U's having dropped into the bottom four in the table.[28] He made his debut on 26 January and immediately kept a clean sheet as Colchester defeated Walsall 2–0 to end a run of nine league games without a point, the club's worst ever run.[29] Walker produced clean sheets at former club Yeovil[30] and Stevenage,[31] as well as some important saves to secure points in wins against Bury[32] and a penalty save against Leyton Orient.[33] Walker kept another clean sheet on the final day of the season with a 2–0 away victory at Carlisle United, ensuring Colchester remained in League One for another season as they finished 20th in the table.[34] He ended his first loan stint at the club with 19 league appearances.[26]

Having been influential in goal in the second half of the 2012–13 season, on 19 July 2013, Walker rejoined Colchester on a six-month loan deal, keeping him at the club until 19 January.[35] He kept a clean sheet in the opening day victory at Gillingham on 3 August.[36] He conceded an own goal against Sheffield United in a home FA Cup tie on 9 November as Colchester slipped to a 3–2 defeat.[37] In December 2013, with his contract expiring at the end of the season, Walker announced he needed to discuss his future with Chelsea before deciding whether to extend his loan spell at Colchester or pay attention to interest from elsewhere.[38] Walker then played the final game of his loan spell away at Carlisle on 18 December, spilling a late free kick to concede a goal, although the U's went on to win 4–2.[39] He amassed a further 29 appearances for Colchester in all competitions in his second loan period.[40]

Colchester United

[edit]

Following his two loan spells with the club in the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons, Walker signed for the League One club on a permanent basis on 20 January 2014 on an 18-month contract.[41] Owing to a string of postponed games due to waterlogged pitches, Walker's first appearance as a full-time U's player didn't arrive until 11 February, when Colchester lost 2–0 at Port Vale.[42] Walker signed a contract extension with the club in December 2014 to remain with Colchester until the summer of 2016.[43]

Despite being ruled out of the first half of the 2015–16 season, Walker signed a new contract extension on 22 December 2015 to remain at the Colchester Community Stadium until the summer of 2018.[44] Being ruled out for the entire season, Walker made just one solitary appearance during the 2015–16 season.[45]

Walker made his first start in almost one year on 6 August 2016 in Colchester's 1–1 draw with Hartlepool United at Victoria Park on the opening day of the 2016–17 season.[46] He played every league game in the 2016–17 season, making a total of 48 appearances throughout the campaign.[47]

On 29 June 2018, Colchester manager John McGreal announced that Walker had left the club after failing to agree a new contract.[48] He had made 47 appearances across the 2017–18 season and made 213 total appearances for the club including his loan spells.[49]

Reading

[edit]

On 25 July 2018, Walker signed a three-year contract with Reading.[50]

Blackpool loan

[edit]

On 23 December 2020, Walker joined League One side Blackpool on an emergency one-week loan after their first-team goalkeeper Chris Maxwell tested positive for Coronavirus.[51] On 30 December, the loan was extended for a further seven days.[52]

AFC Wimbledon loan

[edit]

On 11 January 2021, Walker joined League One side AFC Wimbledon on loan for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.[53]

Kilmarnock

[edit]

In July 2021, Walker signed a two-year deal with Scottish Championship side Kilmarnock.[54]

Charlton Athletic

[edit]

On 16 October 2023, Walker joined Charlton Athletic on a short-term deal until January 2024.[55]

Bradford City

[edit]

On 11 January 2024, Walker joined Bradford City following the expiration of his short-term contract at Charlton Athletic.[56]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 3 December 2024[57]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chelsea 2010–11[58] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2011–12[59] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2012–13[60] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2013–14[61] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Barnet (loan) 2010–11[58] League Two 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Northampton Town (loan) 2011–12[59] League Two 21 0 1 0 2 0 1[a] 0 25 0
Yeovil Town (loan) 2011–12[59] League One 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0
Bristol Rovers (loan) 2012–13[60] League Two 11 0 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 14 0
Colchester United (loan) 2012–13[60] League One 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 0
2013–14[61] League One 26 0 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 29 0
Total 45 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 48 0
Colchester United 2013–14[61] League One 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0
2014–15[62] League One 45 0 3 0 0 0 1[a] 0 49 0
2015–16[63] League One 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
2016–17[64] League Two 46 0 1 0 0 0 1[b] 0 48 0
2017–18[65] League Two 44 0 1 0 1 0 1[b] 0 47 0
Total 155 0 5 0 2 0 3 0 165 0
Reading 2018–19[66] Championship 7 0 0 0 2 0 — 9 0
2019–20[67] Championship 0 0 4 0 1 0 — 5 0
2020–21[68] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 7 0 4 0 3 0 — 14 0
Blackpool (loan) 2020–21[68] League One 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
AFC Wimbledon (loan) 2020–21[68] League One 12 0 0 0 0 0 2[b] 0 14 0
Kilmarnock 2021–22[69] Scottish Championship 1 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 9 0
2022–23[70] Scottish Premiership 28 0 2 0 4 0 0 0 34 0
Total 29 0 3 0 7 0 4 0 43 0
Charlton Athletic 2023–24[71] League One 0 0 2 0 0 0 1[b] 0 3 0
Bradford City 2023–24[71] League Two 20 0 — — — 20 0
2024–25[72] League Two 17 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 20 0
Total 37 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 40 0
Career total 346 0 19 0 17 0 13 0 395 0
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

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Chelsea Youth

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Reading" (PDF). English Football League. p. 58. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Sam Walker at Soccerbase
  3. ^ Elgar, Timothy (6 November 2005). "Gravesend and Northfleet Junior Football match reports". BBC. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Sam Walker". Flown From the Nest. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  5. ^ a b Bravo, Julian (7 January 2014). "Where Are They Now? The 09/10 FA Youth Cup Winners". Rocky Mountain Blues. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Barnet bring back Grazioli — and sign two loan players". BBC Sport. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Barnet 2–2 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Barnet 2–1 Crewe". BBC Sport. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  9. ^ "Accrington Stanley 3–1 Barnet". BBC Sport. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  10. ^ Fletcher, Paul (7 May 2011). "Barnet 1–0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  11. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Northampton Town sign Chelsea goalkeeper Sam Walker on loan". BBC Sport. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Northampton 0–0 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Northampton 2–7 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  15. ^ "Northampton Town's Sam Walker hails Aidy Boothroyd impact". BBC Sport. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Northampton Town bids for Jamille Matt rejected". BBC Sport. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  17. ^ "Yeovil sign Chelsea's Sam Walker as Gilmartin and Ehmer leave". BBC Sport. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  18. ^ "Bury 3–2 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  19. ^ "MK Dons 0–1 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  20. ^ "Gary Johnson rues 'horrendous mistake' by Yeovil keeper". BBC Sport. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  21. ^ "Yeovil Town keeper Sam Walker looks to escape 'bad patch'". BBC Sport. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  22. ^ "Yeovil 0–6 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  23. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  24. ^ "Chelsea goalkeeper Sam Walker joins Bristol Rovers on loan". BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  25. ^ "Ipswich 3–1 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  26. ^ a b "Games played by Sam Walker in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  27. ^ "Scott Bevan: Bristol Rovers keeper's career under threat". BBC Sport. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  28. ^ "Chelsea keeper Sam Walker joins Colchester United on loan". BBC Sport. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  29. ^ "Colchester 2–0 Walsall". BBC Sport. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  30. ^ "Colchester 2–0 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  31. ^ "Stevenage 0–2 Colchester". BBC Sport. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  32. ^ "Bury 1–2 Colchester". BBC Sport. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  33. ^ "Colchester 2–1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  34. ^ "Carlisle 0–2 Colchester". BBC Sport. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  35. ^ "Chelsea goalkeeper Sam Walker rejoins Colchester United". BBC Sport. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  36. ^ "Gillingham 0–1 Colchester". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  37. ^ "Colchester 2–3 Sheff Utd". BBC Sport. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  38. ^ "Chelsea future to influence Sam Walker's Colchester United loan". BBC Sport. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  39. ^ "Carlisle 2–4 Colchester". BBC Sport. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  40. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  41. ^ "Transfer window: Colchester United sign Chelsea's Sam Walker". BBC Sport. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  42. ^ "Port Vale 2–0 Colchester". BBC Sport. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  43. ^ "Sam Walker: Colchester United goalkeeper signs new deal". BBC Sport. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  44. ^ "Colchester United: Goalkeeper Sam Walker signs new deal". BBC Sport. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  45. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  46. ^ "Hartlepool United 1–1 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  47. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  48. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (29 June 2018). "Colchester United have not given up hope of keeping Kane Vincent-Young". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  49. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  50. ^ "Sam Walker signs for the Royals". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  51. ^ "Sam Walker: Blackpool sign Reading goalkeeper on emergency loan". BBC Sport. 23 December 2020.
  52. ^ "Emergency Loan Extension Agreed For Sam Walker" - Blackpool F.C., 30 December 2020
  53. ^ "Sam Walker: Reading goalkeeper joins AFC Wimbledon on loan". BBC Sport. 11 January 2021.
  54. ^ "Sam Walker joins Killie on two-year deal". kilmarnockfc.co.uk. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  55. ^ "SAM WALKER BOLSTERS GOALKEEPING DEPARTMENT". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  56. ^ "SAM WALKER JOINS BRADFORD CITY". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  57. ^ "S. Walker". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  58. ^ a b "Games played by Sam Walker in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  59. ^ a b c "Games played by Sam Walker in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  60. ^ a b c "Games played by Sam Walker in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  61. ^ a b c "Games played by Sam Walker in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  62. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  63. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  64. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  65. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  66. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  67. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  68. ^ a b c "Games played by Sam Walker in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  69. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  70. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  71. ^ a b "Games played by Sam Walker in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  72. ^ "Games played by Sam Walker in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
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