Clive Walker (footballer, born 1957)
{{Short description|English footballer (born 1957)}}
{{About|the former Woking, Chelsea, Sunderland, QPR, Fulham and Brighton player|the former Leicester, Northampton and Mansfield player|Clive Walker (footballer, born 1945)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=May 2014}}
{{COI|date=May 2020}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Clive Walker
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1957|6|25}}
| birth_place = Oxford, England
| position = Winger
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Chelsea
| years1 = 1976–1984
| years2 = 1979
| years3 = 1984–1985
| years4 = 1985–1987
| years5 = 1987–1990
| years6 = 1990–1993
| years7 = 1993–1997
| years8 = 1997–1999
| years9 =
| clubs1 = Chelsea
| clubs2 = → Fort Lauderdale Strikers (loan)
| clubs3 = Sunderland
| clubs4 = Queens Park Rangers
| clubs5 = Fulham
| clubs6 = Brighton & Hove Albion
| clubs7 = Woking
| clubs8 = Cheltenham Town
| clubs9 = Molesey
| caps1 = 198
| caps2 = 22
| caps3 = 50
| caps4 = 21
| caps5 = 109
| caps6 = 106
| caps7 = 203
| caps8 = 56
| totalcaps = 743
| goals1 = 60
| goals2 = 9
| goals3 = 10
| goals4 = 1
| goals5 = 29
| goals6 = 8
| goals7 = 91
| goals8 = 13
| totalgoals = 212
| nationalyears1 = 1972 | nationalteam1 = England Schoolboys | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 1
| manageryears1 =
| managerclubs1 = Molesey
}}
Clive Walker (born 25 June 1957) is an English retired footballer. His playing career spanned some 1,000 league and cup games for Chelsea, Sunderland, Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion before enjoying a renaissance in the Conference with Woking and Cheltenham Town.
Playing career
=Chelsea=
Walker was born in Oxford, England. He was an old-fashioned winger with pace who used to terrorise full backs on a weekly basis. He began his career with Chelsea, playing in the same side as the likes of Ray Wilkins. He first broke into the Chelsea team during the 1977–78 season, but they were in the Second Division for most of his time there. He nonetheless played a big role in several key matches for the club in this period.
He put in Man of the Match performances against European champions Liverpool in the FA Cup in 1978 and 1982 as the Blues pulled off two famous upsets; he scored twice in a 4–2 win in 1978 and set up a late clincher for Colin Lee in a 2–0 win in 1982. With Chelsea facing relegation to the Third Division in 1982–83, and with it potential financial meltdown, Walker also scored a late winner against fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers in the penultimate game of the season to ensure the club's survival. In 1979, Chelsea sent him on loan to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League.
=Sunderland=
Walker left Chelsea at the end of the 1983–84 season following a contract dispute, and signed for Sunderland. He returned to haunt his old side the following season in the League Cup, when the teams were drawn together in the semi-finals. In the second leg at Stamford Bridge, Walker inspired Sunderland to a 3–2 win, giving them a 5–2 aggregate lead, which provoked a near-riot; at one point a Chelsea fan entered the pitch and chased Walker. In the final at Wembley, however, Sunderland lost 1–0 to Norwich City, with Walker missing a penalty when he hit his shot against the post.
Coaching career
After retiring from professional football, Walker became player-manager of Molesey.[http://www.horsham-fc.co.uk/matches/2001-02/2028/molesey/ Molesey 1 Horsham 0] Horsham F.C.
He currently works as an analyst for the radio station BBC London 94.9 and is a co-director of Sporting Experience with Jason Cundy.
He also makes appearances on Chelsea TV.
Records
Walker currently holds the record for the oldest player to play for his last club, Cheltenham Town.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
Honours
Woking
|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-fa-trophy-final-steele-has-edge-for-woking-1437593.html
|title=Football / FA Trophy Final: Steele has edge for Woking
|publisher=Independent
|access-date=25 May 2022}}{{cite news
|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-final-thrust-from-fielder-1619672.html
|title=FOOTBALL: Final thrust from Fielder
|publisher=Independent
|access-date=25 May 2022}}{{cite news
|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/woking-given-nasty-bite-by-underdogs-1262323.html
|title=Woking given nasty bite by underdogs
|publisher=Independent
|access-date=25 May 2022}}
Cheltenham Town
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{cite book | author=Mears, Brian | title=Chelsea: A 100-year History | publisher=Mainstream Sport| year=2004| isbn=1-84018-823-5}}
- [http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/W/Walker.Clive.htm NASL stats]
{{Chelsea F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Clive}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. players
Category:Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1977–1983) players
Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players
Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players
Category:Cheltenham Town F.C. players
Category:Footballers from Oxford
Category:Brentford F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Molesey F.C. managers
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States