Players - Johnny Walker

Johnny Walker
Birthdate: 24 August 1873
Birthplace: Shotts, Scotland
Date of death: 1937
Other clubs: Armadale, Hearts (1893-98), Rangers (1902-05), Morton (1905-06)
Signed from: Hearts
Signed for LFC: 175*, 30.03.1898
International debut: 30.03.1895 vs. Ireland
International caps: 5/3 (at Hearts and Rangers) - 26.03.1904
Liverpool debut: 11.04.1898
Last appearance: 26.04.1902
Debut goal: 12.04.1898
Last goal: 26.04.1902
Contract expiry: 01.05.1902
Win ratio: 50% W:60 D:26 L:34
Games/goals ratio: 4
Honours: League Championship 1900/01
League games / goals: 109 / 29
Total games / goals: 120 / 30

Player Profile

John Walker and Tom Robertson signed for Liverpool from Edinburgh club Hearts at the end of the 1897/98 season. Walker had been a tremendous success at Hearts, winning the Scottish League in 1895 and 1897 and the Scottish cup in 1896 which he lifted as captain. He had also made his Scotland debut against Ireland on 30 March 1895, scoring twice in a 3-1 win. In his first full season at Liverpool Walker missed just two league and Cup games, scoring 11 times in 32 first division matches as the Reds finished runners-up to Aston Villa. Walker did get into trouble in November 1898 along with teammates Hugh Morgan and George Allan when they were charged with a breach of the peace and obstructing the police. They were being a little too lively on the street and a constable arrived to settle down matters. Walker shouted: ‘Let’s show him some Scotch blood!’ In the end the constable took Allan into custody while Morgan and Walker tried to prevent his arrest.

The inside-right started the following campaign in great form, scoring seven goals in the opening ten games, but only got three goals in the remaining 21. Despite the fact that Walker's goals dried up he continued to be a key player for the Reds who now relied on the goalscoring talents of centre-forward, Sam Raybould. Liverpool's last game of the 1900/01 season was against relegation-doomed West Bromwich Albion and their first League title was a realistic possibility. Liverpool had only been in first place on the opening day of the campaign but now a draw sufficed for the Reds to topple Sunderland who were equal on points with superior goal average, but had already played all their games. Walker was the hero of the day scoring the deciding goal in the first half as the Daily Express reported: "Robertson only just missed scoring for Liverpool and at the other end Garfield was charged off the ball just when about to shoot at an almost open goal. At last, however, Liverpool got away and Walker scored." The Scotsman played one more season for Liverpool before returning to his native Scotland to play for Rangers. Walker later emigrated to Canada where he passed away in the small community of Louise, Manitoba, where he had lived with his sister ,Lilias.
Appearances per season
Please note

Liverpool paid a combined 350 pounds to Hearts for John Walker and Tom Robertson on 30 March 1898.

Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 109 11 0 0 0 120
1897-1898 3 0 0 0 0 3
1898-1899 32 6 0 0 0 38
1899-1900 27 4 0 0 0 31
1900-1901 29 1 0 0 0 30
1901-1902 18 0 0 0 0 18
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
9 810 Sheffield United
9 810 WBA
8 720 Aston Villa
7 630 Bury
7 630 Stoke City
7 630 Sunderland
7 630 Sheffield Wednesday
7 630 Notts County
6 540 Blackburn Rovers
6 540 Nottingham Forest
6 540 Everton
6 540 Wolves
6 540 Derby
6 540 Preston North End
6 540 Newcastle United
4 360 Manchester City
4 360 Bolton Wanderers
4 360 Burnley
2 180 Birmingham City
2 180 Glossop North End
1 90 Grimsby Town
Total Venue
59 Away
58 Home
3 Neutral
Total Competition
109 League
11 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
120 60 26 34 50% Tom Watson
Goals per season
Please note

Liverpool paid a combined 350 pounds to Hearts for John Walker and Tom Robertson on 30 March 1898.

Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 29 1 0 0 0 30
1897-1898 2 0 0 0 0 2
1898-1899 10 1 0 0 0 11
1899-1900 10 0 0 0 0 10
1900-1901 6 0 0 0 0 6
1901-1902 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 11.04.1898 The Wednesday Anfield League
50 02.12.1899 Burnley Turf Moor League
100 22.04.1901 Sheffield United Bramall Lane League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 35 12.04.1898 Derby Baseball Ground League
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Armadale Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
Hearts 1892-1893 Scotland Division 1 7 0 7 0
Hearts 1893-1894 Scotland Division 1 12 7 12 7
Hearts 1894-1895 Scotland Division 1 15 8 15 8
Hearts 1895-1896 Scotland Division 1 17 8 17 8
Hearts 1896-1897 Scotland Division 1 18 5 18 5
Hearts 1897-1898 Scotland Division 1 12 4 12 4
Rangers 1902-1903 Scotland Division 1 17 7 22 10
Rangers 1903-1904 Scotland Division 1 21 11 26 16
Rangers 1904-1905 Scotland Division 1 12 5 14 6
Morton 1905-1906 Scotland Division 1 8 6 8 6
Total 139 61 151 70