Karen Walker (footballer)

Last updated

Karen Walker
Kaz Walker.JPG
Personal information
Date of birth (1969-07-29) 29 July 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth Mexborough, England [1]
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1985–2004 Doncaster Rovers Belles
2004–2006 Leeds United Ladies
International career
1988–2003 England 86 (41)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Karen Walker (born 29 July 1969) [2] is an English former international football centre-forward. She played for Doncaster Belles for 20 years, starting at the age of 15, and began playing for England as a teenager, making 83 appearances and scoring a record 40 goals until she retired from international football in 2003. [3] Walker's uncompromising style of play earned her the sobriquet "Wacker". [4]

Contents

Walker is particularly remembered for her performances in the 1995 World Cup in Sweden. [5] She finished her career with two seasons at Leeds United, and in her last game, against Arsenal in the 2006 FA Cup Final, [6] she left the pitch to a standing ovation.

In 2007, she was part of the BBC team covering the FIFA Women's World Cup in China. [7] Later that year she was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. [3]

Club career

Walker's neighbour, Karen Skillcorn, was already playing for Doncaster Belles and recruited Walker as a fifteen-year-old. After a period as a substitute, Walker became first choice when the club's regular centre-forward became pregnant. [8] In a long career with the club she eventually played in 11 FA Women's Cup finals, winning five of them. [3] With the formation of the National Division in 1991, Walker scored 36 goals in 14 games to help Doncaster win the inaugural title. [9] Red Star Southampton were vanquished 4–0 in the 1992 WFA Cup Final as the club won a League and Cup double. Walker reportedly set a record by scoring a hat-trick in every round of the Cup, including the final. [10]

International career

In July 1988, Walker made her England debut as a teenager against an Italy B team in the Mundialito tournament. Scoring with her first kick of the ball inspired Walker to take her subsequent football career much more seriously. [8]

In November 2022, Walker was recognized by The Football Association as one of the England national team's legacy players, and as the 72nd women's player to be capped by England. [11] [12]

International goals

Since The Football Association took over the team in 1993. Scores and results list England's goal tally first.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen Carney</span> English footballer and sports journalist (born 1987)

Karen Julia Carney is an English sports journalist and former professional footballer who played as a winger and midfielder. Carney has been a regular broadcaster for live football on Sky Sports, ITV and Amazon Prime, including Women's Super League and men's Premier League matches since 2019. She is also a sports columnist for BBC Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Television, and The Guardian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.</span> Womens association football club in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England

Doncaster Rovers Belles Ladies Football Club, previously Doncaster Belles, is an English women's football club that currently plays in the FA Women's National League Division One North, the fourth tier of women's football in England. The club's administration is based at their home ground of Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sue Smith (footballer)</span> English footballer

Susan Jane Smith is a former English international footballer who last played for Doncaster Rovers Belles and England as a winger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jody Handley</span> English footballer

Jody Handley is an English former footballer from Stafford, who most recently played for FA WSL 2 club Doncaster Rovers Belles. A pacy and intelligent attacking player, she featured as both a wide midfielder and striker for England as well as clubs including Wolves Women, Liverpool Ladies and Everton Ladies. She has featured in four FA Women's Cup finals with three clubs, losing the first three but captaining Everton Ladies to their win in 2010.

Gillian Coultard is an English former football player, and former England captain. She is one of England Women's most capped internationals, with 125 appearances, and was the highest capped outfield England international for a number of years. At one stage she was one of only five footballers to have reached over 100 caps for England, and she was the first woman and amateur player to have done so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vicky Exley</span> English footballer

Vicky Exley is an English former international footballer from Rotherham in South Yorkshire. She most recently played for Doncaster Rovers Belles in the FA WSL, the top division of women's football in England. Exley also played over 50 times for England's national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pauline Cope</span> English footballer

Pauline Cope, whose married name is Pauline Cope-Boanas, is an English former football goalkeeper. She won 60 caps for the England women's national football team between her debut in 1995 and retirement from international football in 2004. Cope was England's first choice goalkeeper at the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's Euro 2001. Ted Copeland, England's coach at the former competition, described Cope as the best female goalkeeper in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Williams (footballer)</span> English footballer

Rachel Louise Williams is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United of the English Women's Super League.

Karen Burke is a former English footballer. She most recently played for Blackburn Rovers Ladies. Burke was born in Liverpool and represented England at full international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natasha Dowie</span> English footballer (born 1988)

Natasha Khalila Dowie is an English former footballer. She represented the England women's national football team at the youth level before making her senior international debut in 2009. Dowie played for the London teams Watford, Fulham and Charlton Athletic, and then spent five years with Everton before transferring to FA WSL clubs Liverpool Ladies in November 2012 and Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2016. She also spent three periods on loan with Melbourne Victory of the Australian W-League in 2015, 2016, and 2017 and played for Boston Breakers in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2016 and 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Becky Easton</span> English footballer

Rebecca Anne Easton is an English former footballer who played for Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton and Liverpool.

Karen Farley is an English former women's international footballer. Her married name is Karen Livermore-Farley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aran Embleton</span> English footballer

Aran Embleton also called "Azza" by her teammates is an English footballer. She signed for North Shields Ladies in February 2011, having previously played in midfield or attack for Sunderland Women and Doncaster Belles. Aran is a fast and very skilful midfielder/forward who has the ability to change a game. She had many offers for scholarships in America but turned them all down to play for her home team.

Gail Borman is an English former footballer, who played club football for the Doncaster Belles. She was described by journalist Pete Davies, author of the book I lost my Heart to the Belles, as a "quick and elegant England striker."

Carmaine Walker is a former English footballer, who represented England women's national football team. A tall and powerful striker, Walker won the FA Women's Cup once and the Premier League twice with home town club Croydon. Now working as a driver for Initial Medical

Tracy Davidson is an English former international football goalkeeper. She represented the England women's national football team at senior international level and spent more than a decade with Doncaster Belles during their dominance of English women's football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millie Bright</span> English footballer (born 1993)

Millie Bright is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club Chelsea who she captains, and the England national team. She previously played for Doncaster Belles and Leeds Ladies, and represented England on the under-19 and under-23 national teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Sigsworth</span> English footballer

Jessica Lucy Sigsworth is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker for Manchester United, Sheffield United, Notts County, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Leicester City, and has represented England at numerous youth levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethany England</span> English footballer (born 1994)

Bethany "Beth" England is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women’s Super League club Tottenham Hotspur, whom she captains, and the England national team. She previously played for Doncaster Rovers Belles, Liverpool and Chelsea, and represented England on the U19 and U23 national teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie Chipchase</span> British footballer and football club manager (1961–2021)

Julie Chipchase was an English football player and manager. Commonly known as Chippy, she is regarded as a pioneering female football coach who played an important role in the development of women's football in England.

References

  1. ↑ "READ UP ON TONIGHT'S ENGLAND STARS". Norwich City F.C. 23 July 2002. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  2. ↑ "England:Karen Walker". FIFA. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "Hall of Fame Profile- Karen Walker". National Football Museum. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  4. ↑ "Karen's Diary". femaleSOCCER.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  5. ↑ Karen Walker – FIFA competition record (archived)
  6. ↑ "Yankey delighted by Cup final win". BBC Sport. 1 May 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "BBC to follow England in Fifa Women's World Cup China 2007 – live coverage on BBC Two". BBC. 22 August 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  8. 1 2 Davies, Pete (1996). I Lost My Heart to the Belles. London: Mandarin. p. 36. ISBN   0-7493-2085-0.
  9. ↑ "1991–1992". The Owl Football Historian. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  10. ↑ Galvin, Robert. "Karen Walker". National Football Museum. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  11. ↑ "ENGLAND PLAYER LEGACY AND RESULTS ARCHIVE" (Press release). The Football Association. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  12. ↑ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (18 November 2022). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". Mirror . Retrieved 19 June 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.