Roy Walker (footballer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Robert Wright Walker | ||
Date of birth | 1957 (age 66–67) | ||
Place of birth | Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||
Position(s) |
Centre-back | ||
Youth career | |||
Torrin Boys | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1972–1975 | Luton Town | 0 | (0) |
1975–1985 | Ards | ||
1985–1986 | Glenavon | 7 | (0) |
1986–1987 | Portadown | 17 | (0) |
1987–1993 | Crusaders | 86 | (2[1]) |
Managerial career | |||
1989–1998 | Crusaders | ||
1998–2000 | Glenavon | ||
2007 | Glentoran | ||
2008–2011 | Ballymena United | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Robert Wright "Roy" Walker (born 1957) is a football manager and former player. His most recent job was as manager of NIFL Premiership side Ballymena United.
Playing career
Born to a working-class family in east Belfast, Walker began his career with Torrin Boys youth club, before moving to Luton Town in England. He returned to Northern Ireland to play for Ards, Glenavon, and Portadown. He finished his playing career with Crusaders.[2]
Walker is also a
Managerial career
Crusaders F.C.
He later became player-manager of Crusaders, in 1989. Walker was a player with Crusaders and was appointed manager in 1989. Walker brought huge success to the North Belfast club by winning the Irish League in 1995 and 1997, also winning the Gold Cup in 1996, the Ulster Cup in 1994, the County Antrim Shield in 1992, and the Stena Line Trophy in 1997, the same year he won the league. Walker had a very good number of players who would become Crusaders legends. Kirk Hunter was a fan favourite along with future manager of Crusaders Stephen Baxter. Other players included Sid Burrows, Glenn Dunlop, Kevin McKeown, Glenn Hunter, and future Glentoran pair Darren Lockhart and Chris Morgan. Walker stunned not only Crusaders fans but the whole Irish League by resigning from the club in 1998. He later became manager of Glenavon.
Walker became manager of the Lurgan Blues hoping to bring success as he did with Crusaders. He did bring a little success to Glenavon by winning the local Mid-Ulster Cup in 1999. Walker resigned in 2000. After leaving Glenavon on 31 July 2000[3] he became a pundit for BBC Radio Ulster.
Glentoran
After becoming a co-commentator for Northern Ireland's local radio show BBC Radio Ulster for Sportsound (the football show to cover all games and bring the final scores) Walker showed a huge interest in becoming new Glentoran manager after the sacking of Paul Miller. In May 2007 Millar was sacked as manager of Glentoran, and Walker finally realised his dream of being appointed Glens manager on 24 May.
On 29 May, Alan McDonald was appointed Glentoran manager. Roy Walker then issued a statement in the Belfast Telegraph, informing the fans of the entire situation, and revealing that he believed he was still Glentoran manager. He also revealed that he had been offered a place on the Glentoran board,[6] but McDonald refused to be part of the club if Walker assumed that position. No board member issued a statement at that time, leaving many Glentoran fans unsure of the situation. The board later released a statement saying that Walker was considering a place on the Glentoran board.[7]
Ballymena United
After failing for the Uefa badges as Glentoran, Walker was appointed new manager of
After Ballymena United
Walker is currently among the possible contenders to be new manager of East Belfast giants Glentoran. Walker applied for the job on 1 February 2012. Walker lost to former Cliftonville manager Eddie Patterson.
Honours
Crusaders
- Irish League(2): 1994/95, 1996/97
- Gold Cup (1): 1995–96
- Ulster Cup (1): 1993/94
- County Antrim Shield (1): 1991–92
- Stena Line Trophy (1): 1996/97
Glenavon
- Mid-Ulster Cup (1): 1998/99
Individual
- Northern Ireland Football Writers Manager of the Year – 1997
References
- ^ Marshall Gillespie, The Northern Ireland Football Yearbook 1996/97, UTV Books, 1996, p. 208
- ^ "Ballymena United Football Club || Northern Ireland". Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Walker quits Glenavon post
- ^ Walker takes over as Glens boss
- ^ Walker unable to take Glens job
- ^ Walker offered Glens board role
- ^ Dick wants Reynolds to step down
- ^ "Walker named new Ballymena boss". BBC Sport. BBC. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2008.