Jimmy Walker breaks our all-time appearance record tomorrow against Brentford. On the 14th February 2009 Wacka came back to the Bescot with Colchester United and I wrote the following article for the sadly now defunct and much missed Walsall site, Ninety Minutes from Europe.
Jimmy Walker – The Returning Hero
As this Saturday is Valentine’s Day, you should spend it with someone you really love. Go to Bescot and watch the return of Jimmy Walker.
The phrase ‘living legend’ is often overused in a game full of clichés such as football, but there can surely be no other words to describe a man that gave so much happiness and prevented so much heartbreak for many Walsall fans.
I am sure everybody has their own favourite memory of Wacka; the flying save against Bury that secured a 0-0 draw and got us promoted in 1995, the frequent penalty saves, running 60 yards to slap Dennis Wise, the triple save against West Ham in the F.A. Cup and the countless away games when he seemed to be the only Walsall player on the pitch.
As a frequent away traveller during Walker’s time at Walsall, it was those games that provided my personal highlights of him, and it was his last away game that particularly stood out for me. We were playing Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, the penultimate fixture of the 03/04 season. Palace were looking for promotion, Walsall looking to survive. It was obvious from the start that we were playing for the draw.
Wave after wave of Palace attack was thwarted by Walker diving across his goal and making world- class saves. I could see the Palace fans already celebrating a goal before Jimmy would stretch out a hand to tip the ball wide. It was the football equivalent of Rorke’s Drift, as Jimmy appeared to be taking on the entire Palace team on his own. Going into the last few minutes it looked as though we would hang on for an underserved draw, until Tommy Black dived for a penalty. Walker’s work was still not done as he dived to his right to save Andy Johnson’s penalty, only for Johnson to score from the rebound.
This marvellous display was typical of Jimmy, particularly away from home in his last few seasons at the club. He was always outstanding but often ended up on the losing side.Between seeing off Trevor Wood for the number one spot and until his first season in League One in 1999/2000, Walker was a good goalkeeper. From the moment Walker replaced Emberson at half- time against Reading in November 2000, and until his very last game against Rotherham in May 2004, he was an absolutely exceptional goalkeeper. There has surely not been a more consistent player for Walsall over the years.
For those of you who have to take the missus out this Saturday for Valentine’s Day, take her to Bescot to ensure Jimmy gets the reception that any returning hero deserves.
The same sentiment applies for tomorrow’s game. Please get to Brentford if you can. Jimmy deserves it. Thanks for all those wondeful memories and I hope there are, at least, a few more to come.
The Gilbert Alsop 