Justin Walker

Justin Walker

— Matthew Scott (@matscott1810) April 18, 2018

Justin Walker is an interesting shout, one or two seemed to do it jokingly whilst others were being genuine. He was a talented and cultured midfielder who played for City in times of turmoil. Had he arrived a year or two later he may well have been a vital component of our play off push, but instead he’ll always be remembered as one of the guys who left as we entered administration.

Walker made his name at Scunthorpe United and it was surprising when Phil Stant managed to secure his signature in the summer of 2000. He didn’t fit the mould of a Stant and Foster player, he was far more composed than the sort of brutish player they preferred. He featured in almost every game in his first season, but began to come into his own when Stant left and Alan Buckley came in trying to play football the right way. A crucial late goal away at leaders Chesterfield in April of 2001 confirmed Third Division football after a season battling against relegation. For his endeavours Walker was named Player of the Year

The following season Walker again turned in good performances amid a backdrop of financial insecurity and uncertainty about the future. A vital last-minute winner at Bristol Rovers gave us the edge over our relegation rivals, and further goals against Carlisle (3-1) and Hartlepool (1-1) helped secure the points we needed to be assured League Football for 2002/03. However, there was nothing that could be done on the pitch to ensure financial survival and Walker was one of the players who was released at the end of the season as a cost cutting exercise.

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