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Phil Walker (footballer, born 1954)

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Phil Walker
Personal information
Full name Philip Leonardus Walker
Date of birth (1954-08-29)29 August 1954
Place of birth London, England
Date of death 8 July 2022(2022-07-08) (aged 67)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Cobham
1974–1975 Epsom & Ewell 41 (19)
1975–1979 Millwall 146 (17)
1979–1983 Charlton Athletic 89 (15)
1983Gillingham (loan) 2 (0)
1983 Eastern
1984 Leixões
1984–1991 Boavista 193 (7)
1991–1995 Maia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Philip Leonardus Walker (29 August 1954 – 7 July 2022) was an English professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. He played for Millwall, Charlton Athletic and Gillingham in the English Football League. After a brief spell with Eastern AA of Hong Kong, he finished his career with eleven years in Portugal with Leixões, Boavista and Maia. His nephew is the Southampton player, Kyle Walker-Peters.[1]

Career

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Born in London, Walker joined Millwall in 1975 having played for non-league sides Epsom & Ewell and Cobham prior to that, quickly establishing himself in the centre of the team's midfield.[2] One of the first notable black players in the club's history, he garnered renown as a skilful player with excellent passing; he moved to Charlton Athletic in 1979, and remained there until 1983 when he briefly joined Hong Kong club Eastern AA.

Walker spent half a season with Portuguese club Leixões before moving on at the age of 30 to Boavista.[3] He quickly established himself in the starting eleven, and was a first-choice player for the vast majority of his seven-year spell.

After nearly five seasons with northern neighbours Maia, then playing in the Portuguese Second Division, Walker retired at the age of 41. He subsequently had a brief stint as Maia's coach in the early 2000s.[4]

Later life

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Following his retirement, Walker returned to England and set up a soccer school in Wandsworth, London. He died on 8 July 2022.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ Giacomelli, Marco (15 August 2017). "'Even the Arsenal fans in the family are proud of Kyle Walker-Peters!'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Matchday programme" (PDF). Hartney Wintney FC. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Época 1984/85: Primeira Divisão" [1984–85 season: First Division]. Arquivos da Bola (in Portuguese). 24 June 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Técnico Phil Walker quer regressar às vitórias" [Coach Phil Walker wants to return to winning]. Record (in Portuguese). 25 October 2003. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  5. ^ "RIP Phil Walker (1954 - 2022)". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  6. ^ Phil Walker Football
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