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{{For|those of a similar name|Mark Waters (disambiguation)}} {{For|those of a similar name|Mark Waters (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox football biography {{Infobox football biography
| name = ] | name = Mark Walters
| image = Mark Walters.JPG | image = Mark Walters.JPG
| image_size = 250 | image_size = 250
| fullname = ] | fullname = Mark Everton Walters
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|6|2|df=y}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|6|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], ] | birth_place = ], ]
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| death_date = | death_date =
| position = ]/] | position = ]/]
| years1 = 1981–1987 | clubs1=] | caps1=181 | goals1 = 32 | years1 = 1981–1987 | clubs1=] | caps1=181 | goals1 = 32
| years2 = 1987–1991 | clubs2=] | caps2=106 | goals2 = 32 | years2 = 1987–1991 | clubs2=] | caps2=106 | goals2 = 32
| years3 = 1991–1996 | clubs3=]| caps3=94 | goals3 = 14 | years3 = 1991–1996 | clubs3=]| caps3=94 | goals3 = 14
| years4 = 1993–1994 | clubs4=→ ] (loan)| caps4=9 | goals4 = 2 | years4 = 1993–1994 | clubs4=→ ] (loan)| caps4=9 | goals4 = 2
| years5 = 1994–1995 | clubs5=→ ] (loan)| caps5=11 | goals5 = 3 | years5 = 1994–1995 | clubs5=→ ] (loan)| caps5=11 | goals5 = 3
| years6 = 1996 | clubs6=]| caps6=5 | goals6 = 0 | years6 = 1996 | clubs6=]| caps6=5 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 1996–1999 | clubs7=]| caps7=115 | goals7 = 27 | years7 = 1996–1999 | clubs7=]| caps7=115 | goals7 = 27
| years8 = 1999–2002 | clubs8=]| caps8=82 | goals8 = 13 | years8 = 1999–2002 | clubs8=]| caps8=82 | goals8 = 13
| totalcaps =603 | totalcaps =603
| totalgoals =123 | totalgoals =123
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| nationalgoals3 =0 | nationalgoals3 =0
}} }}
'''Mark Everton Walters'''<ref name ="ITN"/> (born 2 June 1964) is an ] former professional ] who played as a ] from 1981 to 2002. He notably played for ], ] and ], and later went on to play for ], ], ], ] and ]. He was capped once by ]. '''Mark Everton Walters'''<ref name ="ITN"/> (born 2 June 1964) is an ] former professional ] who played as a ] from 1981 to 2002.


He notably played for ], ] and ], and later went on to play for ], ], ], ] and ]. He was capped once by ].
==Club Career==


===Aston Villa=== ==Club career==


===Aston Villa===
] began his career as an apprentice at ] on leaving school in the summer of 1980, turning the professional a year later - just after Villa's ] title triumph - and made his competitive debut on 28 April 1982 in a 4-1 league defeat at ], two months after the departure of manager ] - who had given Walters his first professional contract - and the promotion of assistant ] to the manager's seat. Walters was not included in Villa's squad for the ] of the ] on 26 May 1982, which they won 1-0 against ], the ] champions. Walters began his career as an apprentice at ] on leaving school in the summer of 1980, turning the professional a year later - just after Villa's ] title triumph - and made his competitive debut on 28 April 1982 in a 4-1 league defeat at ], two months after the departure of manager ] - who had given Walters his first professional contract - and the promotion of assistant ] to the manager's seat. Walters was not included in Villa's squad for the ] of the ] on 26 May 1982, which they won 1-0 against ], the ] champions.


Walters, still only 18, made 22 league appearances in the ] campaign as Villa finished sixth. He scored once that season. He was firmly established as a regular player in the ], appearing 37 times in the league and scoring eight goals, though Villa had a disappointing season and finished 10th, with Tony Barton being sacked at the end of the season and replaced by ]. Walters, still only 18, made 22 league appearances in the ] campaign as Villa finished sixth. He scored once that season. He was firmly established as a regular player in the ], appearing 37 times in the league and scoring eight goals, though Villa had a disappointing season and finished 10th, with Tony Barton being sacked at the end of the season and replaced by ].

Revision as of 19:01, 22 April 2013

For those of a similar name, see Mark Waters (disambiguation).
Mark Walters
Personal information
Full name Mark Everton Walters
Date of birth (1964-06-02) 2 June 1964 (age 60)
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Midfielder/Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1987 Aston Villa 181 (32)
1987–1991 Rangers 106 (32)
1991–1996 Liverpool 94 (14)
1993–1994 → Stoke City (loan) 9 (2)
1994–1995 → Wolves (loan) 11 (3)
1996 Southampton 5 (0)
1996–1999 Swindon Town 115 (27)
1999–2002 Bristol Rovers 82 (13)
Total 603 (123)
International career
1983–1986 England U21 9 (1)
1991 England 1 (0)
1991 England B 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mark Everton Walters (born 2 June 1964) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder from 1981 to 2002.

He notably played for Liverpool, Rangers and Aston Villa, and later went on to play for Stoke City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton, Swindon Town and Bristol Rovers. He was capped once by England.

Club career

Aston Villa

Walters began his career as an apprentice at Aston Villa on leaving school in the summer of 1980, turning the professional a year later - just after Villa's Football League First Division title triumph - and made his competitive debut on 28 April 1982 in a 4-1 league defeat at Leeds United, two months after the departure of manager Ron Saunders - who had given Walters his first professional contract - and the promotion of assistant Tony Barton to the manager's seat. Walters was not included in Villa's squad for the final of the European Cup on 26 May 1982, which they won 1-0 against Bayern Munich, the West German champions.

Walters, still only 18, made 22 league appearances in the 1982-83 campaign as Villa finished sixth. He scored once that season. He was firmly established as a regular player in the 1983-84 season, appearing 37 times in the league and scoring eight goals, though Villa had a disappointing season and finished 10th, with Tony Barton being sacked at the end of the season and replaced by Graham Turner.

Walters, now highly rated as one of the country's most promising young players, remained in favour under Graham Turner, but Villa were in deep trouble throughout the 1985-86 season, finishing 16th and only avoiding relegation thanks to a late run of good form.

Walters was restricted to 21 league games due to injury problems in 1986-87 as Villa were relegated in bottom place. Turner had been sacked in September and replaced by Billy McNeill, who in turn lost his job after relegation to be succeeded by Graham Taylor.

Walters appeared in the first 24 games of Villa's ultimately successful quest to regain First Division status, scoring seven goals, but his talent was attracting attention from bigger clubs.

Rangers

Due to English clubs being banned from European competition, teams such as Rangers, who were managed by former Liverpool star Graeme Souness, were finding it easier to attract English players and sign internationals such as Terry Butcher, Trevor Steven, Gary Stevens, Chris Woods and Ray Wilkins with Walters becoming one of these players on New Years Eve 1987.

Previously, black players had been a rarity in Scottish football. Queen's Park and Hearts had black players in the 19th Century and Gil Heron played for Celtic in 1951. Rangers had also previously signed a black player, Walter Tull, however Tull died during the First World War before ever kicking a ball for Rangers.

Walters made his Rangers debut on 2 January 1988 in the Old Firm derby match with Celtic at Parkhead, a game which Rangers lost 2–0. Celtic fans racially abused Walters mercilessly during the game. Some Celtic supporters came dressed in fancy dress monkey suits, made monkey noises when Mark Walters was near the touchlines, and threw hundreds of bananas on to the playing surface. At one point, the game had to be stopped so the fruit could be cleared off the pitch. Meanwhile, during the same game, in defence of Walters who had been taken straight to the hearts of Rangers' fans, and who is now Honorary President of the Rangers Supporters Trust, sang "I'd rather be a darkie than a Tim (a name that Celtic supporters use to identify themselves)". Although Celtic slammed the perpetrators, the Scottish Football Association remained silent, and no Celtic supporters were arrested or ejected by stewards or police. Walters himself later stated that his worst experience in Scotland was at Heart of Midlothian's Tynecastle, where the abuse was compounded by object-throwing.

Celtic footballer Gerry Britton, who was one of the apprentices at the time sent out to collect the bananas thrown by the racists in the Celtic crowd, condemned the racism from his own fans that day, as one of the worst things he ever witnessed at a football ground.

Whilst at Ibrox, Walters was part of the side that won the Scottish Premier League in 1989, 1990 and 1991 and the Scottish League Cup in 1988 and 1990 thus enjoying the most successful spell of his career in terms of trophies won.

On 13 August 1991, after 143 appearances in which he scored 51 goals, he followed Souness to Liverpool, which was somewhat ironic seeing as his middle name is Everton - the name of Liverpool's fierce city rivals.

Liverpool

Liverpool paid £1.25 million for Walters' services and he made his debut four days after signing, when he came on as a 65th minute substitute for Steve McMahon in a 2–1 league win over Oldham Athletic at Anfield on 17 August 1991. His first goal for the club was an 88th minute penalty in a 2–1 league win over Notts County at Meadow Lane on 7 September 1991.

His best display all season was in a match against Auxerre at Anfield in the Uefa Cup. Liverpool trailed 2-0 from the away leg but won their home match 3-0 with Walters netting a late winner after tormenting the French defence all night long.

He remained a regular in the side and helped Liverpool to the 1992 FA Cup Final, although he was an unused substitute as his team-mates beat 2nd Division Sunderland 2–0. However, he appeared in just 25 out of 42 league appearances for the Reds that season, scoring three goals as they finished sixth - the first time since 1981 that they had finished lower than champions or runners-up.

Walters scored Liverpool's first FA Premier League goal when he equalized in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United in August 1992. That same season he was also the first Liverpool player to score a Premiership hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Coventry City. He was their second highest scorer behind Ian Rush that season, scoring 11 goals in 34 league games, though the Reds finished sixth again.

He lost his regular place in central midfield to youngster Jamie Redknapp in the 1993-94 season and never regained it.

When Liverpool beat Bolton Wanderers 2–1 in the 1995 Coca-Cola Cup final, again an unused substitute, Walters was being used less as Roy Evans was employing three centre-halves with Rob Jones and Stig Inge Bjørnebye as wing-backs and three midfielders - Steve McManaman, Jamie Redknapp and John Barnes.

He had already been sent out on loan to Stoke City (9 games, 2 goals) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (11 games, 3 goals) during the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons, and thus it was not surprising that, after not appearing at all during the first half of the 1995–96 season, Walters was allowed to leave, joining Southampton on 18 January 1996 on a free transfer.

Southampton

Walters was signed by David Merrington in January 1996 to assist in the Saints' desperate fight against relegation from the Premiership. He made his debut as a substitute against Middlesbrough on 20 January 1996 and made a total of five league and four FA Cup appearances (with the Saints reaching the quarter-finals of the competition), but struggled to make any real impression with the side. His final appearance was in a dreadful match away to Queens Park Rangers, which Saints lost 3–0 meekly surrendering in a shoddy second half. At the end of the season, with Saints' Premiership status secured for another season, Walters was released, moving on to Swindon Town, ironically as Graeme Souness - the man who signed him for Liverpool five years earlier - was arriving at Southampton to succeed the sacked Merrington.

Swindon Town

Walters joined Swindon Town on a free on 31 July 1996 and made his debut on 17 August in the 2-0 defeat to Norwich City at Carrow Road. His first goal for the Robins came via a 26th minute penalty during the 2-1 league win over Tranmere Rovers on 14 September 1996.

At the County Ground, Walters was "sometimes brilliant, but at other times could be very frustrating". He never really featured in manager Jimmy Quinn's plans, and was eventually released to Bristol Rovers on a free transfer during the administration period, when it was decided Town could no longer afford his wages.

Walters played a total of 126 matches for Swindon in which he scored 28 goals before he was released on 17 November 1999.

Bristol Rovers

Having been told that he was no longer required by Swindon the 35 year-old joined Ian Holloway's Bristol Rovers side on a free transfer. He spent three years at the Memorial Stadium playing 96 times and scoring 14 goals before he finally retired on 26 April 2002, five weeks before his 38th birthday. The penultimate season of his career saw Rovers slip into Division Three, and they struggled at this level too, finishing the season just one place - though many points - above demoted Halifax Town.

England career

Walters represented England at schoolboy and under 21 levels before he earning his only full cap under Graham Taylor whilst he was with Rangers. It came on 3 June 1991 in the 1-0 friendly victory over New Zealand in Auckland.

Retirement

Walters joined Coventry Preparatory School as a Saturday morning football coach for the four- to 11 year–olds in February 2003; he then became a member of staff in January 2006, coaching years three to eight and is also head coach of the under-14s at Aston Villa's academy. Walters is also heavily involved with groups aiming to eliminate racism in football. Walters went back to school and obtained teaching qualifications. He is Head of Languages at Aston Villa's academy. His close friend Torben Piechnik teaches science.

Although now retired, Walters still plays in the Sky Sports masters football competitions for Rangers. He is also one of three honorary members of the Rangers Supporters Trust, along with Johnny Hubbard and Billy Simpson.

Career honours

Aston Villa

Winner

Runner up

Rangers

Winner

Runner up

Liverpool

Winner

Runner up

References

  1. ^ Duncan Holley & Gary Chalk (2003). In That Number - A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. Hagiology. pp. 243 & 594. ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
  5. Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research (2002). "Black Footballers in Britain - The Late 1980s and After - A 'New Era'?". University of Leicester. Retrieved 6 July 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. "Letters". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  7. ^ Andrew Smith - The Scotsman (2007). "A Black Day For Scottish Football". The Scotsman. Retrieved 6 July 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  8. Smith, Adrian; Porter, Dilwyn (2004). Sport and national identity in the post-war world. p. 83. ISBN 0-415-28300-0. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  9. ANGUS WRIGHT and MICHAEL BUTCHER (1999). "Racism returns to haunt Scottish game once more". The Scotsman. Retrieved 6 July 2008. That was the worst place of all. It wasn't just the abuse because I can handle that. It was all the objects that were being thrown. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  10. ^
  11. ^ "Swindon Town player profile: Mark Walters". Swindon Town F.C. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  12. "New Zealand 0 - England 1; 3 June 1991 (Match summary)". www.englandstats.com. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  13. "Rangers Supporters Trust - April 2003". Rangers Supporters Trust website.

External links

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