Stuart Walker (footballer)

Stuart Walker (born 9 January 1951) is an English former professional football goalkeeper and is currently a physiotherapist at Aston Villa.

Stuart Walker

Personal information
Full name	Stuart Walker[1]
Date of birth	(1951-01-09) 9 January 1951 (age 73)
Place of birth	Garforth, England
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Aston Villa (physiotherapist)
Youth career
	Leeds United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Tadcaster Albion
1975–197?	York City	2	(0)
	Marine
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Walker began his football career as an apprentice with Leeds United,^[2] but joined York City in August 1975 from non-league Tadcaster Albion,^[3] making his debut in the 1976–77 season. He played just two league games for York before injury ended his professional career^[2] and he returned to non-league football with Marine.

Walker initially worked in Rugby league with Leeds and was Castleford's physio when they played on the 1985 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.^[3] He then returned to football and became physio at Sunderland. In July 1998 he was awarded a degree in physiotherapy from the University of Salford while working as the physio at Chester City.^[2]

He became physio at Aston Villa under manager John Gregory and after a spell as Shrewsbury Town physio^[4] also worked under Gregory with Derby County. He left Derby under a cloud after being suspended along with Gregory and assistant manager Ross McLaren in March 2003.^[5][6]

He subsequently returned to Aston Villa as physio and following the departure of manager David O'Leary Walker was temporarily one of Villa's first team coaches under caretaker manager Roy Aitken.

References

1. Barry J. Hugman (1998). The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records 1946-1998. Queen Anne Press. p. 559. ISBN 1-85291-585-4.
2. "Physio honoured". Chester City F.C. 14 July 1998. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
3. "City's Keepers - 1970-94". York City South. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
4. "Shrews wait for Jemson verdict". BBC Sport. 3 February 2002. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
5. "Derby sack Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. 9 May 2003. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
6. "Gregory and Derby settle out of court". Evening Standard. 13 April 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2009.