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English footballer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karen Walker (born 29 July 1969)[2] is an English former international football centre-forward. She played for Doncaster Belles for 20 years, starting at the age of 15, and began playing for England as a teenager, making 83 appearances and scoring a record 40 goals until she retired from international football in 2003.[3] Walker's uncompromising style of play earned her the sobriquet "Wacker".[4]
|
| |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 29 July 1969 | ||
| Place of birth | Mexborough, England[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1985–2004 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | ||
| 2004–2006 | Leeds United Ladies | ||
| International career | |||
| 1988–2003 | England | 86 | (41) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Walker is particularly remembered for her performances in the 1995 World Cup in Sweden.[5] She finished her career with two seasons at Leeds United, and in her last game, against Arsenal in the 2006 FA Cup Final,[6] she left the pitch to a standing ovation.
In 2007, she was part of the BBC team covering the FIFA Women's World Cup in China.[7] Later that year she was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.[3]
Walker's neighbour, Karen Skillcorn, was already playing for Doncaster Belles and recruited Walker as a fifteen-year-old. After a period as a substitute, Walker became first choice when the club's regular centre-forward became pregnant.[8] In a long career with the club she eventually played in 11 FA Women's Cup finals, winning five of them.[3] With the formation of the National Division in 1991, Walker scored 36 goals in 14 games to help Doncaster win the inaugural title.[9] Red Star Southampton were vanquished 4–0 in the 1992 WFA Cup Final as the club won a League and Cup double. Walker reportedly set a record by scoring a hat-trick in every round of the Cup, including the final.[10]
In July 1988, Walker made her England debut as a teenager against an Italy B team in the Mundialito tournament. Scoring with her first kick of the ball inspired Walker to take her subsequent football career much more seriously.[8]
In November 2022, Walker was recognized by The Football Association as one of the England national team's legacy players, and as the 13th women's player to be capped by England.[11][12]
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