Mitch Walker (footballer)

Mitchell Charles Alan Walker (born 24 September 1991 in St Albans, Hertfordshire) is an English professional footballer who plays for Dover Athletic as a goalkeeper.

Mitch Walker

Whitehawk goalkeeper Mitch Walker at Hornchurch in December 2023
Personal information
Full name	Mitchell Charles Alan Walker[1]
Date of birth	(1991-09-24) 24 September 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth	St Albans, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Dover Athletic
Youth career
2000-2002	Crawley Down
2002-?	Three Bridges
? -2009	Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2012	Brighton & Hove Albion	1	(0)
2010	→ Eastbourne Borough (loan)	1	(0)
2011	→ Welling United (loan)	6	(0)
2012	→ Eastbourne Borough (loan)	12	(0)
2012–2019	Dover Athletic	241	(0)
2019–2022	Aldershot Town	85	(0)
2022–2023	Tonbridge Angels	0	(0)
2023–2024	Whitehawk	42	(0)
2024–	Dover Athletic	14	(1)
International career
2013–2014	England C	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2024 (UTC)

Early career

Walker started out as an under 9's goalkeeper at Crawley Down before switching to Three Bridges, from where he was signed by Brighton & Hove Albion after a trial.^[3] He signed pro forms for the Albion in August 2009 while still a second year scholar, playing regularly in the reserves.^[4]

Career

Walker made his professional debut for Brighton & Hove Albion on the last day of the 2009–10 season starting in the 1–0 victory over Yeovil Town at the Withdean Stadium.^[5]

During January 2011, Walker signed on loan with Conference South side Welling United. On 1 March 2012, Walker joined Eastbourne Borough for a second loan spell.^[6]

Walker spent seven years at Dover Athletic before joining Aldershot Town in the summer of 2019. He went on to feature 93 times for the Hampshire-based side before leaving in July 2022,^[7] following a serious knee injury.^[8]

On 1 December 2022, Walker signed for Tonbridge Angels, initially as the goalkeeper coach as he was out injured.^[9] Walker joined Whitehawk for the start of the 2023-24 season.^[10]

On 25 May 2024, Walker returned to Dover Athletic following their relegation to the Isthmian League Premier Division.^[11] On 31 August 2024, Walker scored a first career goal as the wind carried his long free-kick over the Sittingbourne goalkeeper.^[12]

On Saturday 31 August 2024 Walker scored a goal direct from a free kick away to Sittingbourne FC in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Dover would score two in two minutes of injury time to draw this match and take this to a replay.

Career statistics

As of end of 2023–24 season^[13]

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Brighton & Hove Albion	2009–10	League One	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Eastbourne Borough (loan)	2009–10	Conference Premier	1	0	0	0	—		0	0	1	0
Welling United (loan)	2010–11	Conference South	6	0	0	0	—		0	0	6	0
Eastbourne Borough (loan)	2011–12	Conference South	12	0	0	0	—		0	0	12	0
Dover Athletic	2012–13	Conference South	39	0	2	0	—		5[lower-alpha 1]	0	46	0
	2013–14	Conference South	42	0	5	0	—		8[lower-alpha 2]	0	55	0
	2014–15	Conference Premier	20	0	0	0	—		1[lower-alpha 3]	0	21	0
	2015–16	National League	34	0	2	0	—		4[lower-alpha 4]	0	40	0
	2016–17	National League	16	0	3	0	—		0	0	19	0
	2017–18	National League	46	0	2	0	—		3[lower-alpha 3]	0	51	0
	2018–19	National League	36	0	2	0	—		1[lower-alpha 3]	0	39	0
	Total		233	0	16	0	—		22	0	271	0
Aldershot Town	2019–20	National League	39	0	1	0	—		1[lower-alpha 3]	0	41	0
	2020–21	National League	28	0	1	0	—		3[lower-alpha 3]	0	32	0
	2021–22	National League	18	0	1	0	—		1[lower-alpha 3]	0	20	0
	Total		85	0	3	0	—		5	0	93	0
Whitehawk	2023–24[14]	Isthmian League Premier Division	42	0	4	0	—		9[lower-alpha 5]	0	55	0
Career total			380	0	23	0	0	0	36	0	439	0

1. Two appearances in FA Trophy, three in Conference South play-offs
2. Five appearances in FA Trophy, three in Conference South play-offs
3. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
4. Two appearances in FA Trophy, two in National League play-offs
5. Four appearances in FA Trophy, two appearances in Sussex Senior Challenge Cup, three appearances in Alan Turvey Trophy

References

1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/09/2009 and 30/09/2009" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 440. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
3. Match day Programme, Crawley Down v Whitehawk, Sussex Senior Challenge Cup Final, 12 May 2012
4. Match day programme, Brighton & Hove Albion v Eastbourne Borough, Sussex Senior Challenge Cup Final, 16 July 2011
5. Owen, Brian (8 May 2010). "Bennett ends on a high". The Argus. Retrieved 8 May 2010. The game was most notable for impressive debuts by youth teamers Mitch Walker and Jake Caskey. Walker got the start in goal and made fine first-half saves from Kieran Murtagh and Dean Bowditch as well as handling the ball well
6. "Albion keeper joins Boro on loan". The Argus. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
7. "Aldershot Town announce full retained and released list". Aldershot Town F.C. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
8. The Non-League Paper, 3 September 2023, p7
9. "Mitch Walker". Tonbridge Angels. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
10. "x.com".
11. "Walker Returns". doverathletic.com. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
12. "Report – Sittingbourne FC 2–2 Dover Athletic". doverathletic.com. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
13. "M. Walker". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
14. "Whitehawk – Appearances – Mitch Walker – 2023–2024". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2024.

External links

• Mitch Walker at Soccerbase
• Mitch Walker at Soccerway