Jason Walker (footballer)

Club career

Early career

Born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, Walker grew in Flookburgh and attended Cartmel Priory School.{{Cite news |access-date = 19 May 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140519145533/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/afc/b-font-color-red-exclusive-font-b-fa-trophy-hero-walker-returns-to-barrow-afc-1.1136742 |archive-date = 19 May 2014 |url-status = dead |access-date = 19 May 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140520011640/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/afc/walker-takes-stanley-road-1.486856 |archive-date = 20 May 2014 |url-status = dead | access-date = 19 May 2014}} He then had two years on a professional contract before being released in May 2004 with the club in administration, bringing to an end four years with Dundee.{{Cite news |access-date = 31 July 2011}} He subsequently joined Scottish Second Division side Greenock Morton in July 2004.{{Cite web |access-date = 19 May 2014}} He left the club and signed for Conference National side Morecambe in January 2007 after training with the team.{{Cite news |access-date = 25 August 2011}} He scored in the 90th minute on his first team debut, a 5–0 victory at home to Mangotsfield United in the FA Trophy second round on 13 January 2007, after entering the match as a 65th minute substitute. Following the game, manager Sammy McIlroy said "Jason took his goal really well. He could be a good asset for us".{{Cite news |access-date = 25 August 2011}}

Barrow

Walker was released by Morecambe on 8 March 2007 and one day later signed for Conference North side Barrow.{{Cite news |access-date = 19 May 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140520020029/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/afc/can-walker-be-next-cowps-1.141666 |archive-date = 20 May 2014 |url-status = dead |access-date = 21 June 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121008182525/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/afc/news/review_of_season_walker_s_goal_to_cherish_1_549725 |archive-date = 8 October 2012 |url-status = dead

Walker was allowed to go on trial with Championship side Doncaster Rovers in July 2009, having impressed their manager Sean O'Driscoll in a pre-season friendly against his side.{{Cite news |access-date = 21 June 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121009004910/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/afc/afc_s_walker_offered_doncaster_trial_1_586076 |archive-date = 9 October 2012 |url-status = dead |access-date = 21 June 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121009004936/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/afc/news/walker-firmly-a-bluebird-1.593309 |archive-date = 9 October 2012 |url-status = dead

On 20 March 2010, Walker scored twice as Barrow beat Salisbury City 2–1 in the second leg of the FA Trophy semi-final, which gave Barrow a 3–1 win on aggregate and therefore progression to the Final at Wembley Stadium.{{Cite news | access-date = 31 July 2011}} Barrow faced Conference Premier champions Stevenage Borough in the Final on 8 May 2010 and Walker scored the winning goal with a 25-yard "wonder strike" in a 2–1 victory after extra time.{{Cite news |access-date = 31 July 2011}}{{Cite news |access-date = 25 August 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111020153327/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/afc/barrow-afc-win-fa-trophy-at-wembley-1.704493?referrerPath=afc |archive-date = 20 October 2011 |url-status = dead

Luton Town

Walker signed for fellow Conference Premier side Luton Town on 17 November 2010, initially on loan, with a view to a permanent transfer in January 2011.{{Cite news | access-date = 31 July 2011}} He scored on his Luton debut with a header from Matthew Barnes-Homer's cross and earlier in the match assisted a Jake Howells goal in a 5–1 win at home to Histon on 20 November 2010. | access-date = 19 October 2012

The permanent switch for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £45,000, was completed on 5 January 2011, with Walker signing a one-and-a-half-year contract.{{Cite news |access-date = 25 August 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121009005331/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/afc/news/afc-snap-up-england-c-striker-1.782263?referrerPath=2.3953%2Ffly_high_above_barrow |archive-date = 9 October 2012 |url-status = dead | access-date = 19 October 2012 His final act as a Luton player was to miss a crucial penalty kick in the 2011 Conference Premier play-off final penalty shoot-out defeat to AFC Wimbledon at the City of Manchester Stadium on 21 May 2011, with his chipped effort being saved by goalkeeper Seb Brown.{{Cite news | access-date = 14 March 2012}} He finished the season with six goals in 29 appearances for Luton.

York City

Eight months after joining Luton, Walker signed for Conference Premier rivals York City on a two-year contract on 16 June 2011, with the officially undisclosed fee being revealed by Luton as £60,000.{{Cite news | access-date = 13 August 2011}}{{Cite news | access-date = 13 August 2011}} He scored a penalty and a 90th minute winning goal with a header on his debut, a 2–1 victory away at Ebbsfleet United in the opening game of the 2011–12 season on 13 August 2011.{{Cite news | access-date = 13 August 2011}} Walker was handed a three-match suspension after being red carded during a 0–0 draw away at former club Barrow on 19 November 2011 for a tackle on Jason Owen during stoppage time.{{Cite news | access-date = 6 December 2011}}{{Cite news | access-date = 6 December 2011}} Walker won a second FA Trophy in the 2012 Final with York at Wembley on 12 May 2012, in which the side beat Newport County 2–0. Eight days later he played in the 2–1 victory over his former club Luton in the 2012 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley, seeing York return to the Football League after an eight-year absence with promotion to League Two.

Walker started York's game away at League One Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup first round in the opening game of the 2012–13 season on 11 August 2012, which the side lost 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out following a 1–1 draw after extra time. After converting Jonathan Smith's header, his first goal of the season came in the following game, a 3–1 defeat at home to Wycombe Wanderers on 18 August 2012, which was York's first Football League fixture since their promotion.{{Cite news | access-date = 19 August 2012}} He completed the season having scored nine goals in 48 games before being released by York on 29 April 2013.{{Cite news | access-date = 29 April 2013}}

Östersunds FK

Walker signed for Swedish Superettan side Östersund on 1 July 2013 and made his debut in a 2–0 away defeat to Falkenbergs FF on 20 July.{{Cite news | trans-title = Craig Barr and Jason Walker new players in ÖFK | access-date = 1 July 2013

Forest Green Rovers

Walker joined Forest Green Rovers in the Conference Premier on 22 January 2014, signing a contract until the end of the 2013–14 season.{{Cite news | access-date = 22 January 2014}} He made his debut for the club on 25 January 2014, coming on as a substitute for Lee Hughes on 86 minutes in a 3–0 home win against Chester. After making two appearances for Forest Green, Walker signed for Conference Premier rivals Southport on 27 February 2014, on a loan deal until 26 March.{{Cite news | access-date = 27 February 2014}} He scored on his debut, in a 3–0 home win over Dartford on 1 March 2013. On 24 March 2014, it was announced that Walker had extended his loan with Southport until the end of the season. After scoring 6 times in 10 appearances for Southport, he was recalled by Forest Green on 20 April 2014 after an injury crisis at the club.{{Cite news | access-date = 20 April 2014}} On 28 April 2014, it was announced that he had been released by Forest Green. | access-date = 28 April 2014}}

Return to Barrow

Walker rejoined Barrow on a three-year contract on 19 May 2014, with the club by this time playing in the Conference North. Walker was part of the Barrow team who won the Conference North title in the 2014–15 season by beating Lowestoft 3–2 on the final day of the season.

Chorley

Upon his release by Barrow Walker signed for National League North side Chorley.{{Cite news | access-date = 24 August 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160921071622/http://www.chorleyfc.com/index.php/players-staff/the-first-team/76-people/players/2925-jason-walker | archive-date = 21 September 2016 | url-status = dead

International career

Walker became the first Barrow player since the early 1990s to earn a call-up to the England C team after being included in the squad to face the Malta under-21 team in February 2009.{{Cite news | access-date = 25 August 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110930061758/http://www.barrowafc.com/news/?article=193 | archive-date = 30 September 2011 | url-status = dead | access-date = 25 August 2011}}

Career statistics

Honours

Barrow

• Conference North play-offs: 2008
• FA Trophy: 2009–10

York City

• Conference Premier play-offs: 2012
• FA Trophy: 2011–12

References

References

1. (18 May 2013). "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13". The Football League.
2. "J. Walker". Perform Group.
3. "SIGNING: Walker joins the Dolly Blues - News - Lancaster City FC Official Website".
4. "Jason Walker - First Team - Workington AFC".
5. {{Soccerbase season. 38998. 2006
6. {{Soccerbase season. 38998. 2012