*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:42, 13 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:59, 26 March 2024 (UTC)
In 2008 summer, Walker joined Atlético Zabal (Real Balompédica Linense's farm team), but only appeared in eight matches (575 minutes overall), scoring six times. During the 2009–10 season, he was promoted to Linense's first team, but only made four appearances, all from the bench, 89 minutes overall.
In January 2010, he signed with UD Los Barrios,[4] and made his debut on the 31st, against Puerto Real CF. He scored his first goal on 27 April, against Sevilla FC C. In May 2010, Walker returned to Linense,[5] getting more playing time than his last spell, appearing in 13 matches (849 minutes overall) and scoring once (against UD Los Palacios on 26 September).
In January of the following year, he signed a contract with CD San Roque, in Spanish fifth division.[6] In his first season, he only appeared six times and scored once, with his team being promoted to fourth division. In his second season, he was the club's topscorer and best player of the season, scoring ten goals in 30 games (all starts).[7]
Portsmouth
Walker (right) with Lincoln Red Imps in 2015
In July 2012, Walker was called by Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton to train with the club, after an impressive performance for Gibraltar.[8] He was a part of the squad in the club pre-season matches, against Bolton Wanderers, on 4 August.[9] In his next game, on 8 August, he scored the final goal, against AFC Wimbledon.[10]
On 16 August, Walker signed a one-month contract with Pompey.[11] However, due to his international clearance not being made by RFEF in time, he was unable to play on the opening day of the League One season against Bournemouth. He only made his debut on 21 August 2012, in an away match against Colchester United, coming in for Kieran Djilali who started on the bench. Walker played on the wing on his debut whilst Portsmouth captain Brian Howard and Lee Williamson played in the centre. Portsmouth drew with Colchester 2–2, with goals for Pompey through Luke Rodgers and Jordan Obita. Walker hit the post early in the second half and also assisted Rodgers in the first goal of the match.[12] He then started in the following two games (against Carlisle United and Oldham Athletic), before being dropped to the bench. Walker only received a start three months later, against Yeovil Town, on 29 December.[13]
Walker scored his first league goal for Portsmouth against Scunthorpe United on 2 February 2013.[14] He scored his second on the 16th, against Carlisle United, from the penalty spot.[15] Walker finished the season with three assists, only behind Jed Wallace (5) and Howard (6).
At the end of the season, Walker was challenged to earn a new deal by manager Guy Whittingham.[16] However, on 9 July, Walker announced that he would join a Greek club.[17]
Trials and back to San Roque
It was reported that Walker turned up at a training base of Dundee United in Spain without notice and requested a possible trial. This was however refused by Dundee United's management.[18] He was also linked to a move for Aris Thessaloniki, but the deal fell through.[19]
In late July, Walker returned to San Roque, only training with the club while waiting for a "convincing offer" from any club.[20] On 2 August, he signed with San Roque.[21][22]
Walker scored in his San Roque re-debut on 5 October, but in a 1–2 home loss against Recreativo B.[23] He finished his second spell with the club with nine appearances, scoring two goals.
Bnei Yehuda
On 9 January 2014, it was announced that Walker had been released from his contract with CD San Roque after his buyout clause had been met.[24] On 21 January 2013 he joined Israeli Premier League side Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv F.C. on a 2+1⁄2-year contract, after being recommended by Yossi Benayoun and reuniting with former teammate James Keene.[25]
He played 14 total games during his time in the Middle East, scoring a long-range free kick in a 2–0 win at Hapoel Ra'anana on 1 February.[26]
Lincoln Red Imps
On 16 September 2014, Lincoln Red Imps announced that Walker had returned to Gibraltar to play for them. In his first season, Walker scored 13 goals in 10 league matches, placing him third in the league in scoring.[27] In August 2016, it was Lincoln Red Imps announced that Walkers recently expired contract would not be extended. In total Walker appeared in 43 league matches for the club, scoring 24 goals.[28]
Europa FC
On 18 August 2016 it was announced that Walker had signed for Europa FC, a regular Europa League participant and fellow Gibraltar Premier Division club.[29] Walker debuted for Europa on 18 September 2016 in the 2016 Pepe Reyes Cup against his former club Lincoln. Europa won the match 2–0 with Enrique "Kike" Gomez scoring a brace.[30] Walker tallied an assists and played all 90 minutes of the match.[31] During Europa's first match of the 2016–17 season, Walker scored his first goal for his new club on his league debut, the only goal in 1–0 victory over Lions Gibraltar.[32]
On 25 July 2017, it was confirmed that he had impressed manager Kevin Nolan enough to earn a permanent deal with the Magpies.[35] He made his debut on 5 August, starting in a 3–0 loss at Coventry City in the season opener.[36] On 30 April 2018, Walker left the Meadow Lane club after 19 official games "to pursue opportunities elsewhere".[37] He signed a three-year contract back at Europa in June.[38]
Walker played in 2011 Island Games, starting in all Gibraltar's matches, and scoring a hat-trick against Ynys Môn on 27 June.[39] Walker stood as the only professional player in the national team.[40]
After Gibraltar was accepted as a member of UEFA, Walker was selected as part of the 23-man squad for Gibraltar's official debut against Slovakia on 19 November 2013.[41] He earned a starting spot in a 0–0 draw, played in Faro, Portugal.[42]
Walker scored his first international goal, and Gibraltar's first goal in a competitive FIFA fixture, with a left-footed blast to tie against Greece in Gibraltar's World Cup qualifying debut on 6 September 2016, tying the match 1–1 before eventually falling 1–4. Walker was named the FIFA Player of the Day following the match.[43] He scored his second international goal, levelling the record set by Jake Gosling and Lee Casciaro, on 25 March 2018. A deflected free-kick saw Gibraltar beat Latvia 1–0 at the Victoria Stadium.[44]
In November 2020, Walker became the first player to reach 50 caps for Gibraltar since the national team joined UEFA.
In 2021, scored his third goal in the defeat against Latvia.
In 2022, scored his fourth goal in the draw against Bulgaria and become the top scorer of the national team.
Career statistics
Club
As of match played on 26 May 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
The Gibraltar men's national football team represents Gibraltar in international football competitions, and is controlled by the Gibraltar Football Association. Gibraltar applied for full Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) membership and was accepted by the UEFA Congress in May 2013. It can therefore compete in the UEFA European Championship starting with the 2016 tournament for which the team competed in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Group D. On 13 May 2016 Gibraltar became a member of FIFA at the governing body's 66th Congress which was held in Mexico City. Gibraltar is the second smallest UEFA member in terms of population and the smallest in terms of area.
Lincoln Red Imps Football Club is a professional association football club from Gibraltar. They play in the Gibraltar National League, and share Victoria Stadium with all other clubs in the territory. They are the country's record champion with 27 league titles, including fourteen consecutive titles between 2003 and 2016, and in 2014 were the first team to represent Gibraltar in the UEFA Champions League's qualifying stage. In August 2021, Lincoln became the first club from Gibraltar to ever reach the group stages of a European club competition after defeating the Latvian champions Riga FC in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Europa FC is a professional football club from Gibraltar, that competes in the Gibraltar National League. As with all other clubs in the territory, Europa FC currently shares the Victoria Stadium on Winston Churchill Avenue. The club also operates a women's team which competes in the Gibraltar Women's Football League.
Iván Aguilar Díaz is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Linares as a forward.
Joseph Louis Chipolina is a Gibraltar international footballer who plays for Bruno's Magpies of the Gibraltar Football League as a left back or left winger.
Jordan López Pérez is a Gibraltarian volleyball player and footballer who plays for Lynx in the Gibraltar Football League, and represented the Gibraltar national team in UEFA competition from 2013 until 2017, as a goalkeeper.
Anthony Michael Bardon is a retired footballer and current USSF "B" License coach who played as a central midfielder for the Gibraltar national football team and most recently for Lincoln Red Imps.
Francisco Javier 'Javi' Fernández Luque is a Spanish footballer who plays for Vélez CF as a left winger.
Tyler J. Andrew Walker is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Lincoln City. He is the son of former England defender Des Walker.
James Timothy Barry Coombes is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays for Bruno's Magpies and the Gibraltar national team. Mainly a striker, he can also play as an attacking midfielder. His cousin is Magpies teammate and defender Lee Coombes.
The 2015–16 Gibraltar Premier Division was the 117th season of the national amateur and semi-professional football league in Gibraltar since its establishment - the highest level of football in Gibraltar. The league was contested by ten clubs, expanded from eight clubs in the last two seasons, including all clubs from last season and two promoted clubs from 2014–15 Gibraltar Second Division. The winner of the Gibraltar Premier Division, Lincoln Red Imps was allocated a spot in Champions League qualification, and as they won the Rock Cup a spot in the Europa League was given to the runners-up Europa FC.
Gibraltar became a full member of UEFA, the governing body of association football in Europe, on 24 May 2013. Teams from the territory can qualify for UEFA's two main continental competitions, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, and have entered since the 2014–15 season.
Sykes Al Garro is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays as a forward for Mons Calpe.
Lincoln Red Imps vs Celtic was a football match played on 12 July 2016 at Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar. The match was a UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie between Lincoln Red Imps, the champions of the 2015–16 Gibraltar Premier Division and Celtic, winners of the 2015–16 Scottish Premiership. The result, a 1–0 victory for Lincoln, is considered one of the greatest shocks in European football, and has been described by some media outlets as possibly Celtic's most humiliating defeat, dubbing it the Shock of Gibraltar.
The 2017–18 Gibraltar Premier Division was the 119th season of the top-tier national football league in Gibraltar, as well as the fifth season since the Gibraltar Football Association joined UEFA in 2013. The league was contested by ten clubs. It began on 26 September 2017 and ended on 3 June 2018.
Andre Tjay De Barr is a Gibraltarian professional footballer who plays for Gibraltar Football League club Lincoln Red Imps and the Gibraltar national football team as a forward. Tjay still holds the record as the Gibraltar National Team’s youngest ever goalscorer at the age of 18 years & 248 days, since then he has gone on to score 3 goals for the National team.
Andrew Albert Hernandez, also known as Pishu, is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Europa and the Gibraltar national team.
The 2021 Gibtelecom Rock Cup was a single-leg knockout tournament contested by clubs from Gibraltar, with twelve clubs participating. The winner of the competition qualified to compete in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League.
Mustapha Yahaya is a Ghanaian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Lincoln Red Imps.
References
1 2 Brown, Tony; Joyce, Michael; Longbottom, David, eds. (2013). English National Football Archive Yearbook 2013. Tony Brown. p.162. ISBN978-1-905891-62-7.
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.
