Len Walker
Encyclopedia
Leonard 'Len' Walker was an English
footballer and manager. He is most notable for being manager of Aldershot Football Club
from July 1981 until November 1984, and then June 1985 until 11 April 1991.
and started his football career as a trainee with Middlesbrough
. After a spell in non-league football
with Spennymoor United
he returned to the Football League with Newcastle United
in May 1963.
In July 1964, he moved to Hampshire
to join Aldershot
where he played for the next twelve seasons, making nearly 500 appearances in all competitions. He also became the club's regular penalty
taker; of his 23 league goals, 18 came from the penalty spot. He was an ever-present in 1966–67. He also captained the side, and helped them win their first promotion from the Fourth Division in 1973.
In August 1976, he returned to his native north-east
with Darlington
. After two years, he hung up his boots and took over as manager in October 1978.
.
. Apart from finishing one place outside of promotion in 1984, Walker achieved little of note during his first spell as manager, and was sacked later that year after the club's new owners decided to replace him with the higher-profile Ron Harris
. Harris moved on at the end of that season however, which led to Walker being re-appointed. During his second spell as manager, Aldershot achieved promotion from the Fourth Division
in 1987 - only the second promotion in their Football League history.
They spent two years in the Third Division
before being relegated, but the board kept faith in Walker, even though Aldershot struggled back in the basement division and in 1990 only just avoided relegation to the Conference National.
On 31 July 1990, Aldershot was wound up in the High Court
due to six-figure debts that had rendered the club "hopelessly insolvent", and it looked as though Walker and everyone else at the club would soon be without a job. But the club was rescued by 19-year-old property speculator Spencer Trethewy
, and Walker's job was saved.
Walker moved to the role of General Manager on 11 April 1991 after 10 years as team manager, and first team duties were taken over by new player-manager Brian Talbot
. Financial problems continued to plague the club and it finally went out of business on 25 March 1992. Walker had been on the club's payroll as General Manager to the end.
Since then he has done scouting work for various league clubs, Nottingham Forest amongst them.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer and manager. He is most notable for being manager of Aldershot Football Club
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
from July 1981 until November 1984, and then June 1985 until 11 April 1991.
Playing career
Walker was born in DarlingtonDarlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
and started his football career as a trainee with Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
. After a spell in non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with Spennymoor United
Spennymoor United F.C.
Spennymoor United F.C. was an English association football club based in Spennymoor, County Durham.In 1905, they joined the Northern League and won the league title six times in their history. In the 1936-37 season, they reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to top-flight side West...
he returned to the Football League with Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in May 1963.
In July 1964, he moved to Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
to join Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
where he played for the next twelve seasons, making nearly 500 appearances in all competitions. He also became the club's regular penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
taker; of his 23 league goals, 18 came from the penalty spot. He was an ever-present in 1966–67. He also captained the side, and helped them win their first promotion from the Fourth Division in 1973.
In August 1976, he returned to his native north-east
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
with Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
. After two years, he hung up his boots and took over as manager in October 1978.
Darlington
His spell as manager at Darlington only lasted until the end of the 1978–79 season, when he lost his job, being replaced by Billy ElliottBilly Elliott (footballer)
William Henry "Billy" Elliott , born in Bradford, was an English professional footballer and football manager. He played five times for the England national side.- Playing career :...
.
Aldershot
In January 1981, he was appointed manager of his former club, AldershotAldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
. Apart from finishing one place outside of promotion in 1984, Walker achieved little of note during his first spell as manager, and was sacked later that year after the club's new owners decided to replace him with the higher-profile Ron Harris
Ron Harris (footballer)
Ronald Edward Harris , better known as Ron "Chopper" Harris, is a former English footballer who played for Chelsea in the 1960s and 1970s. Harris is widely regarded as one of the toughest defenders of his era - along with players such as Tommy Smith MBE and Norman Hunter - hence the nickname...
. Harris moved on at the end of that season however, which led to Walker being re-appointed. During his second spell as manager, Aldershot achieved promotion from the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
in 1987 - only the second promotion in their Football League history.
They spent two years in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
before being relegated, but the board kept faith in Walker, even though Aldershot struggled back in the basement division and in 1990 only just avoided relegation to the Conference National.
On 31 July 1990, Aldershot was wound up in the High Court
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
due to six-figure debts that had rendered the club "hopelessly insolvent", and it looked as though Walker and everyone else at the club would soon be without a job. But the club was rescued by 19-year-old property speculator Spencer Trethewy
Spencer Trethewy
Spencer Trethewy was a 19-year-old self-proclaimed property developer, who saved Aldershot Football Club from closure in August 1990 with a £200,000 signed affidavit...
, and Walker's job was saved.
Walker moved to the role of General Manager on 11 April 1991 after 10 years as team manager, and first team duties were taken over by new player-manager Brian Talbot
Brian Talbot
Brian Ernest Talbot is an English football manager and former player. His son is Daniel Talbot.-Playing career:...
. Financial problems continued to plague the club and it finally went out of business on 25 March 1992. Walker had been on the club's payroll as General Manager to the end.
Since then he has done scouting work for various league clubs, Nottingham Forest amongst them.
As a manager
AlderhsotAldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
- Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
Play-Off FinalFinal (competition)The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
winner: 1986–871986-87 in English footballThe 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
 |
October 1978 | June 1979 | 36 | 9 | 15 | 12 | 25.0 |
| Aldershot Aldershot F.C. Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable... |
|
1981 | 1984 | |||||
| Aldershot Aldershot F.C. Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable... |
|
June 1985 | April 1991 | |||||