Walker John Image 1 Hibernian 1922

Description

Dalmuir, Dunbartonshire born outside left John Walker began his football career with Yoker Athletic and played for Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, from where he was signed by Scottish League First Division club Hibernian in November 1920, making his Scottish League debut in a win over Dundee the same month. Walker immediately established himself in Hibernian’s first team and missed only one match in their 1921-22 campaign. He was given the nickname “Darkie” due to his black hair,

He joined the club around the same time as Jimmy Dunn and Johnny Halligan, two other emerging forwards from the Glasgow area, and all three, along with the experienced Jimmy McColl, became important attacking elements of the team which went on to play in two Scottish Cup Finals. Walker played in both, in 1923 they lost 1-0 to Celtic at Hampden Park and in 1924 they were defeated 2-0 by Airdrieonians at Ibrox.

After making 218 appearances for Hibernian in major competitions, scoring 46 goals, Walker was allowed to leave the club on a free transfer in the summer of 1927, joining Third Division (South) club Swindon Town that June. He made his Football League debut against Coventry City that August, but soon lost his place, coming back into the team the following February. But he remained a fringe player at The County Ground in 1928-29, scoring 4 goals in 21 appearances over the two seasons, and was released in the summer of 1929 when he joined Ebbw Vale. After a brief spell in Wales he returned to the West Country later the same year joining Bath City, his last recorded club before his eventual retirement in 1931.