Simon Walton

For the 13th century Bishop of Norwich, see Simon Walton (bishop).

Simon Walton

Personal information
Full name	Simon William Walton [1]
Date of birth	(1987-09-13) 13 September 1987 (age 35)
Place of birth	Sherburn-in-Elmet, England [2]
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [3]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Havant & Waterlooville
Youth career
2003–2004	Leeds United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2006	Leeds United	34	(3)
2006–2007	Charlton Athletic	0	(0)
2006–2007	→ Ipswich Town (loan)	19	(3)
2007	→ Cardiff City (loan)	6	(0)
2007–2008	Queens Park Rangers	5	(0)
2008	→ Hull City (loan)	10	(0)
2008–2012	Plymouth Argyle	61	(9)
2009	→ Blackpool (loan)	1	(0)
2009–2010	→ Crewe Alexandra (loan)	31	(1)
2010	→ Sheffield United (loan)	0	(0)
2012–2014	Hartlepool United	73	(4)
2014–2015	Stevenage	29	(5)
2015–2016	Crawley Town	37	(4)
2016	Garforth Town	6	(0)
2016–2017	Guiseley	34	(3)
2017–2018	Sutton United	28	(3)
2018	Billericay Town	6	(1)
2018	→ Maidstone United (loan)	5	(0)
2018–2019	Maidstone United	20	(1)
2019–2021	Havant & Waterlooville	17	(1)
International career
2002–2003	England U16	5	(0)
2003–2004	England U17	2	(0)
2005	England U19	2	(0)
Managerial career
2018–2019	Maidstone United (player-assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:29, 21 March 2022 (UTC)

Simon William Walton (born 13 September 1987) is an English footballer who most recently played as a midfielder for Havant & Waterlooville. He has played in the Football League for Leeds United, Ipswich Town, Cardiff City, Queens Park Rangers, Hull City, Plymouth Argyle, Blackpool, Crewe Alexandra, Stevenage, and Crawley Town. Walton was capped by England at under-16, under-17 and under-19 level.

Career

Leeds United

Born in Sherburn-in-Elmet, Walton started his career at hometown club Leeds United. He came to attention after being sent off in a pre-season friendly against Valencia in 2004, whilst still just sixteen. He was likened to former Elland Road heroes Alan Smith and David Batty.^{[ citation needed ]} He made his competitive debut on 7 August 2004 against Derby County, and went on to score three goals in the 2004–05 season, Leeds' first in the Championship. Walton struggled to break into the first team during the 2005–06 season with his only appearances coming after injuries to Sean Gregan, Shaun Derry, Jonathan Douglas and Gylfi Einarsson.

Charlton Athletic

In July 2006 he joined Premier League side Charlton Athletic for an initial fee of £500,000, with clauses that could create a total £1m fee. He quickly moved on loan to get some regular first-team football, moving to Ipswich Town three games into the Championship season on 18 August 2006. Walton scored several important goals for Ipswich before being loaned to another Championship side, Cardiff City, in January 2007. When playing for Cardiff, he was sent off against former club Leeds for two bookable offences.

Queens Park Rangers

Walton joined Championship side Queens Park Rangers on 27 July 2007 in a £200,000 deal, ^[4] having never played a competitive game for Charlton. Shortly afterwards, he broke his leg in a friendly against Fulham. ^[5]

On 29 January 2008 Walton moved to Championship play-off hopefuls Hull City on loan for the remainder of the 2007–08 season. ^[6]

Plymouth Argyle

On 6 August 2008, Walton signed for Plymouth Argyle on a four-year contract. Originally proclaimed as a club record signing at £750,000, ^[7] the initial fee paid was well below the £500,000 paid to Cardiff City for Steve MacLean and never surpassed it prior to the club being placed in administration in March 2011. Walton made his debut for Plymouth in a 2–2 draw with Wolves on 9 August. ^[8]

On 22 December 2008 Walton was placed on the transfer list by Paul Sturrock after being sent off in a league match against Barnsley. Sturrock questioned Walton's attitude and temperament after some abject performances, and rash decisions by the player. ^[9] On 26 March 2009 he joined Blackpool on loan until the end of the season. ^{[10] [11]} He made his debut on 11 April as a 74th-minute substitute in Blackpool's 1–0 West Lancashire Derby win over Preston North End at Deepdale.

On 31 August 2009 he joined Crewe Alexandra on loan for the 2009–10 season.

Walton joined Sheffield United on a season-long loan in July 2010. ^[12] However, he suffered cruciate knee ligament damage during his first outing for the club in a pre-season friendly which proved to be a long-term injury. ^[13] Following a recovery period at Bramall Lane his parent club, Plymouth Argyle, agreed to terminate his loan and recall him at the start of September. ^[14] On 5 April 2011, Walton made his first appearance for nine months, and his first for Argyle since 2008, against Leyton Orient. ^[15] Walton scored his first goal in the match against MK Dons on 25 April 2011. ^[16] After the club appointed Carl Fletcher as caretaker manager the captaincy was handed to Walton who has become one of the senior players in the young squad. Walton has subsequently scored several goals, some as penalties, including a brace against Burton Albion on 14 January 2012. ^{[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]}

Walton had his contract extended until the end of the 2012–13 season in April 2012. ^[23] Manager Carl Fletcher revealed that Walton had agreed a new deal the previous autumn when the club was in the process of being bought by businessman James Brent. ^[24] "He signed a new deal during the takeover to benefit the club," said Fletcher in an interview with BBC Radio Devon. "He agreed terms on a deal when the club was being taken over to help and aid the club in getting it out of administration." ^[24]

Hartlepool United

Walton was released by Plymouth in July 2012 so he could be closer to his daughter, ^[25] and signed for Hartlepool United on 6 July. ^{[26] [27]}

Stevenage

Walton signed for Stevenage on 30 June 2014 on a free transfer. ^[28]

Crawley Town

Walton signed for Crawley Town on 18 June 2015 on a free transfer on a two-year deal.

Maidstone United

On 12 October 2018, Walton joined Maidstone United permanently after a short-term loan. ^{[29] [30]} At the end of December 2018, Tristan Lewis was appointed caretaker manager, with Walton as his assistant. ^[31]

Havant & Waterlooville

On 11 May 2019, Havant & Waterlooville announced that Walton had joined the club as a player / coach. ^[32]

Personal life

Walton began dating Nicola Tappenden, a glamour model, in 2007 and they went on to be engaged. ^[33] He became a father in November 2008 when Tappenden gave birth to a baby girl named Poppy. ^{[33] [34]} His younger sister, Sophie, represented England at youth international level, ^[35] and has played in the Women's Premier League and Women's Super League. ^{[36] [37]} Both Simon and Sophie studied at Boston Spa Academy during their time as Leeds United Academy scholars. ^{[38] [39]}

Career statistics

As of match played 23 April 2016

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leeds United	2004–05 [40]	Championship	30	3	1	0	2	0	0	0	33	3
	2005–06 [41]		4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
	Total		34	3	2	0	2	0	0	0	38	3
Charlton Athletic	2006–07 [42]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ipswich Town (loan)	2006–07 [43]	Championship	19	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	19	3
Cardiff City (loan)	2006–07 [44]	Championship	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Queens Park Rangers	2007–08 [45]	Championship	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Hull City (loan)	2007–08 [46]	Championship	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
Plymouth Argyle	2008–09 [47]	Championship	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	0
	2009–10 [48]		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2010–11 [49]	League One	7	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	1
	2011–12 [50]		41	8	2	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	45	8
	Total		63	9	2	0	1	0	1	0	67	9
Crewe Alexandra	2009–10 [51]	League Two	31	1	1	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	33	1
Sheffield United (loan)	2010–11 [52]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hartlepool United	2012–13 [53]	League One	34	1	1	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	37	1
	2013–14 [54]	League Two	39	3	3	0	1	0	3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	46	3
	Total		73	4	4	0	2	0	4	0	83	4
Stevenage	2014–15 [55]	League Two	29	5	2	0	0	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	33	5
Crawley Town	2015–16 [56]	League Two	37	4	1	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	39	4
Career total			307	29	12	0	5	0	9	0	333	29

1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
2. One appearance in the Football League Trophy and one appearance in the League Two play-offs

References

1. "List of Temporary Transfers of Players under Written Contract Between 01/07/2010 and 31/07/2010" (PDF). The Football Association. July 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 513. ISBN   978-0-7553-6356-8.
3. "Simon Walton Football Player Statistics". 11v11. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
4. "Gregory lands Addicks midfielder". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
5. "QPR await X-rays on Walton injury". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
6. "Hull sign Walton on loan from QPR". BBC Sport. BBC. 29 January 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
7. "Walton Arrives". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 6 August 2008. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
8. "Plymouth 2-2 Wolves". BBC News. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
9. "Plymouth's Walton put up for sale". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 December 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
10. "Deadline Day Latest". Blackpool F.C. 26 March 2009. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
11. "Walton makes Blackpool move". Sky Sports.com. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
12. "Sheffield United sign Plymouth Argyle's Simon Walton". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
13. "Sheffield United loan signing out for the season with knee injury". mirrorfootball.co.uk. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
14. "Woe of Walton". The Sheffield Star. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
15. "Leyton Orient 2–0 Plymouth". Plymouth Argyle. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
16. "Walton keeps Argyle hopes alive". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
17. "Plymouth 2–2 Accrington". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 October 2011.
18. "Dag and Red 2–3 Plymouth". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 October 2011.
19. "Oxford Utd 5–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 October 2011.
20. "Plymouth 1–1 Morecambe". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 November 2011.
21. "Plymouth 4–1 Northampton". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 November 2011.
22. "Plymouth 2–1 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. BBC. 14 January 2012.
23. "Simon Walton to stay at Home Park". The Herald. 25 April 2012. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
24. "Simon Walton agrees to new Plymouth Argyle deal". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
25. Cowdery, Rick (6 July 2012). "Walton Released". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
26. "Cooper Makes Move In Transfer Market". Hartlepool United F.C. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
27. "Hartlepool United sign Simon Walton from Plymouth". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
28. "Stevenage sign Ronnie Henry, Chris Whelpdale & Simon Walton". BBC Sport. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
29. "Walton signs for the Stones". Maidstone United F.C. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
30. Tucker, Craig (12 October 2018). "Maidstone United sign Simon Walton from Billericay Town and name Blair Turgott captain". KentOnline. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
31. Stones TV: Big interview with Tristan and Simon, maidstoneunited.co.uk, 28 December 2018
32. SIMON WALTON JOINS THE HAWKS AS PLAYER COACH, havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk, 11 May 2019
33. "Nicola T and Cassie Sumner". OK!. 13 October 2009. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
34. Coventry, Laura (15 June 2010). "WAG Nicola T ditches summer wedding plans after hectic schedule". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
35. "Home comforts". The Football Association. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
36. "Walton signs for Belles". Leeds Metropolitan University. 4 August 2010. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
37. "Lincoln off to a flying start". Lincoln Ladies F.C. 22 July 2011. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
38. "Combine football with studies". LeedsUnited.com. Leeds United. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
39. Hay, Phil (5 November 2019). "Threatening to set fire to Clattenburg's car, a debut for Leeds at 16 and learning not to be 'an angry guy' – meet coach Simon Walton". The Athletic . Retrieved 30 June 2020.
40. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
41. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
42. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
43. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
44. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
45. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
46. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
47. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
48. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
49. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
50. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
51. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
52. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
53. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
54. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
55. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
56. "Games played by Simon Walton in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 March 2023.

External links

• Simon Walton at Soccerbase