Walker Willie Image 1 Fulham 1920

Description

Darlington, County Durham born outside left Willie Walker began his football career with Darlington Albion in 1907 and played for Darlington St Augustine’s in 1908, from where he was signed by Second Division club Fulham in 1909, making his Football League debut at Blackpool that October. Walker soon established himself as a regular in the Fulham first team and holds the unwelcome distinction of being the first Fulham player to be sent off in a Football League match, which came against Bradford City on 15th February 1913.

Walker’s career was badly interrupted by the suspension of peacetime football in May 1915 due to the onset of the First World War, but after the War he returned to Craven Cottage and once again played regularly in Fulham’s first post war peacetime campaign in 1919-20. However he lost his place at the start of the 1920-21 season and only played twice more for The Cottagers in October 1920 before joining Lincoln City in the 1921 close season after 24 goals in 176 appearances for Fulham. After a season of regular football for Lincoln, scoring 5 goals in 33 appearances, he left the club in 1922 but returned briefly to play 3 matches in January 1924 before his retirement from the game.