Zain Walker

Zain Walker

Personal information
Full name	Zain Alexander Walker [1]
Date of birth	(2002-01-08) 8 January 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth	Wandsworth, England
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) [2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Welling United
Youth career
	Fulham
	Bristol Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2022	Bristol Rovers	11	(0)
2021	→ King's Lynn Town (loan)	4	(0)
2021	→ Chippenham Town (loan)	1	(0)
2022–2023	King's Lynn Town	21	(0)
2023–2024	Aldershot Town	0	(0)
2023–2024	→ Bishop's Stortford (loan)	19	(1)
2024	→ Bishop's Stortford (loan)	2	(0)
2024–	Welling United	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:07, 31 May 2024 (UTC)

Zain Alexander Walker (born 8 January 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League South club Welling United.

Career

Bristol Rovers

Born in Wandsworth, ^[2] Walker began his career with Fulham, moving to Bristol Rovers at the age of 16. ^[3] He made his debut on 13 November 2018 in the EFL Trophy, ^[4] one of four Bristol Rovers players (alongside Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Connor Jones and Theo Widdrington) to do so in that match. ^[5] Walker also became the first player born in the 2000s to play for Bristol Rovers. ^[6]

On 4 September 2020, Walker signed a new two-year deal contract with Rovers with an option for a further year, following an impressive pre-season. ^[7] Walker made his first league appearance for the club in a 4–1 defeat to Doncaster Rovers coming off of the bench in the 74 minute. ^{[8] [9]} Having featured off of the bench a few times, Rovers' third manager of the season Joey Barton promoted both Walker and fellow Development Squad player Pablo Martinez to train with the first team in early March 2021 as Rovers fought to avoid relegation. ^[10] Walker made his full debut for the club when he started on 27 March 2021 in a 1–0 home defeat to Sunderland. ^[11]

On 8 September 2021, Walker joined National League side King's Lynn Town on a one-month youth loan deal. ^[12] He made his debut that weekend, starting and playing 66 minutes of a 2–1 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge. ^[13]

On 12 November 2021, Walker joined National League South side Chippenham Town on loan along with his Rovers teammate Cameron Hargreaves. ^[14] He made his debut the following day but was forced off after 30 minutes with a muscle injury. ^[15]

King's Lynn Town

On 19 January 2022, Walker joined National League side King's Lynn Town for an undisclosed fee having spent time on loan there earlier in the season. ^{[16] [17]}

Aldershot Town

In July 2023, Walker signed for National League club Aldershot Town on a one-year deal, reuniting with former King's Lynn manager Tommy Widdrington. ^[18]

On 2 August 2023, he joined National League North club Bishop's Stortford on loan until January 2024. ^{[19] [20]} The loan ended in January 2024. ^[21] He returned to the club the following month on loan until the end of the season. ^[22]

Walker was released by Aldershot upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2023–24 season. ^[23]

Welling United

On 31 May 2024, Walker joined National League South club Welling United. ^[24]

Career statistics

As of end of 2023–24 season

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
Bristol Rovers	2018–19 [4]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1	0
	2019–20 [25]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2020–21 [8]	League One	11	0	0	0	0	0	4 [lower-alpha 1]	0	15	0
	2021–22 [26]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	2	0
	Total		11	0	0	0	0	0	7	0	18	0
King's Lynn Town (loan)	2021–22 [26]	National League	4	0	0	0	—		0	0	4	0
Chippenham Town (loan)	2021–22	National League South	1	0	—		—		0	0	1	0
King's Lynn Town	2021–22	National League	7	0	—		—		0	0	7	0
	2022–23	National League North	14	0	3	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	18	0
	Total		21	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	25	0
Aldershot Town	2023–24	National League	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
Bishop's Stortford (loan)	2023–24	National League North	21	1	0	0	—		3 [lower-alpha 2]	0	24	1
Career Total			58	1	3	0	0	0	11	0	72	1

1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy.
2. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Bristol Rovers" (PDF). English Football League. p. 14. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
2. Zain Walker at Soccerway
3. "Profile". Bristol Rovers F.C. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
4. "Games played by Zain Walker in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
5. John Evely (14 November 2018). "The 'brilliant' positive despite Bristol Rovers' defeat to Exeter City". Bristol Post. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
6. Krishan Davis (14 November 2018). "Ex-Fulham youngster becomes first player born THIS millennium to feature for Bristol Rovers". Bristol Post. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
7. "Zain Walker Signs Extended Deal!". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
8. "Games played by Zain Walker in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
9. "Doncaster Rovers 4–1 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 26 September 2020.
10. "Joey Barton explains why he has promoted two young talents to Bristol Rovers first-team squad". Bristol Post. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
11. "Bristol Rovers 0–1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 27 March 2021.
12. "Walker Joins King's Lynn Town on Loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 8 September 2021.
13. "King's Lynn Town 1–2 Dagenham & Redbridge". BBC Sport. 11 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
14. "Hargreaves and Walker Join Chippenham Town on Loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 12 November 2021.
15. "Chippenham Town 3–0 Billericay Town". chippenhamtown.com. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
16. "Lynn Make Double Swoop". www.kltown.co.uk. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
17. "Zain Walker Completes Move To King's Lynn Town". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
18. "NEW SIGNING: Zain Walker". www.theshots.co.uk. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
19. "PLAYER LOANED: Zain Walker". www.theshots.co.uk. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
20. "Walker signs for Blues as Smith rallies fans for Chester visit". Bishop's Stortford Independent. 4 August 2023.
21. "Thank you Zain!". 5 January 2024.
22. "Zain returns!". www.bsfc.co.uk. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
23. "2023/24 Retained List". www.theshots.co.uk. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
24. "Attacking midfielder Zain Walker becomes Wings' first signing of the summer". wellingunited.com. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
25. "Games played by Zain Walker in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
26. "Games played by Zain Walker in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2021.