Jake Walker (Irish footballer) explained

Jake Walker
Fullname:Jake Walker
Birth Date:2000 8, df=yes
Birth Place:Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland
Currentclub:Crumlin United
Clubnumber:19
Position:Striker
Youthyears1:2017–2019
Youthclubs1:St Patrick's Athletic
Years1:2017–2020
Caps1:23
Goals1:1
Years2:2020–2022
Clubs2:Crumlin United
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Bray Wanderers
Caps3:22
Goals3:2
Club-Update:14 December 2023

Jake Walker (born 19 August 2000) is an Irish footballer who plays for League of Ireland First Division club Bray Wanderers, having previously played for St Patrick's Athletic and Crumlin United.

Club career

Early career

Walker signed for the St Patrick's Athletic Under-17 side in January 2017.[1] He played in the same Under 19s team as fellow future first team players including Brian Maher, Joe Manley, Paul Clearly and Luke McNally. In 2018, his side got to the Enda McGuill Cup final, unfortunately losing out 2–1 to Bohemians at Richmond Park on 4 September.[2]

St Patrick's Athletic

Walker made his debut for the St Patrick's Athletic first team on 8 August 2017 when he came off the bench for Josh O'Hanlon for the last 2 minutes of a 2–1 Leinster Senior Cup win over Firhouse Clover at Richmond Park.[3] [4] He did not feature in the 2018 season with forward options including Christy Fagan, Jake Keegan and Achille Campion at the dispense of manager Liam Buckley. His next involvement with the first team came on 18 February 2019 when he came off the bench for the injured Gary Shaw in a 3–0 Leinster Senior Cup win over Wexford, with Walker heading home a James Doona cross after 58 minutes to put his side 2 goals in front.[5] That performance impressed manager Harry Kenny enough to promote him from the Under-19s team to the first team squad for the season 3 days later, on 21 February.[6] His League of Ireland debut came on 5 April 2019, coming on for Gary Shaw in injury time of a 1–0 win at home to champions Dundalk.[7] His first professional contract came when he signed a 2-year contract with the club on 11 April 2019.[8] Walker made 10 more substitute appearances in a row before coming off the bench and scoring the winner against Finn Harps on 14 June with 7 minutes to go, the first league goal of his senior career.[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] This performance earned Walker a place in the starting 11 as he started the next 3 games, away to UCD,[16] at home to Shamrock Rovers in the Dublin derby[17] and an important win away to Waterford.[18] His first appearance in Europe came on 11 July 2019 as he came off the bench against IFK Norrköping of Sweden, as Pats lost 2–0 at Richmond Park.[19] On 22 October 2019 Walker came off the bench away to Derry City in the 69th minute with the scores level and brilliantly set up two goals for fellow substitute James Doona to secure a 3–1 win for the Saints at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.[20] Walker scored the third goal in a 4–0 win over Athlone Town in the 2019 Leinster Senior Cup Final on 16 November 2019, claiming the first silverware of his senior career.[21] After making 1 appearance in the 2020 season before the league was postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it was announced on the 3rd August 2020 that Walker had left the club.[22]

Crumlin United

After leaving Pat's, Walker played for Leinster Senior League side Crumlin United from 2020 to 2022 where he excelled to the extent that he was the league's top goalscorer during his time there.[23]

Bray Wanderers

On 12 December 2022, it was announced that Walker had signed for League of Ireland First Division club Bray Wanderers ahead of their 2023 season.[24]

Personal life

In December 2023, Walker was charged by Garda Síochána with unlawful possession of €1,000 worth of Cocaine and having it for sale or supply in Clondalkin.[25]

Career statistics

Professional appearances – correct as of 4 August 2020.[26]

ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
St Patrick's Athletic2017League of Ireland Premier Division0000001010
20180000000000
201922110001042283
2020100010
St Patrick's Athletic Total23110001052303
Career Total23110001052303

Honours

(1)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Extratime.ie - Jake Walker. www.extratime.ie.
  2. Web site: Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2018 U19 Cup Final - St Patrick's Ath U19 -v- Bohemians U19. www.extratime.ie.
  3. Web site: 88' | Another debut for Saints with U17 striker Jake Walker on to replace Josh O'Hanlon, 1-0pic.twitter.com/iJgxh8Uofh. St Patrick's Athletic. FC. 8 August 2017.
  4. Web site: Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2017 Leinster Senior Cup Quarter Finals - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Firhouse Clover. www.extratime.ie.
  5. Web site: Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2019 Leinster Senior Cup Fourth Round - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Wexford. www.extratime.ie.
  6. Web site:
    1. SaintsAcademy player Jake Walker has been added to our #Saints2019 1st team squad for the 2019 season. He joined our U17s in 2017 & scored his 1st senior goal in Monday's Leinster Senior Cup win over Wexford. He can still play for our U19s too #WelcomeJake #Saints2019 pic.twitter.com/FoDIPzE3Xa
    . St Patrick's Athletic. FC. 21 February 2019.
  7. Web site: St Patrick's Athletic vs. Dundalk - 5 April 2019 - Soccerway. ie.soccerway.com.
  8. Web site: "It Feels Great, It's Something I Always Wanted To Achieve" - #SaintsAcademy striker Jake Walker has signed a 2 year pro contract with the club. He's already scored in LSC v Wexford & made his league debut v Dundalk last Friday. He's been talking to us about the news pic.twitter.com/Gb6oqWQluE. St Patrick's Athletic. FC. 11 April 2019.
  9. Web site: Republic of Ireland - J. Walker - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. ie.soccerway.com.
  10. Web site: Jake Walker picks a fine time to score his first league goal for St Patrick's. The Irish Times.
  11. Web site: Jake Walker the unlikely hero for St Pat's against Finn Harps. Independent.ie.
  12. Web site: Walker's 83rd-minute strike breaks Harps hearts as St Pat's snatch victory late on. Aaron. Gallagher. The42.
  13. Web site: Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2019 League of Ireland Premier Division - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Finn Harps. www.extratime.ie.
  14. Web site: Walker scores first career goal to hand St. Pat's dramatic win over Finn Harps. www.donegaldemocrat.ie.
  15. Web site: Jackpot for Walker as Pat's quell Harps. Paul Buttner-15 June 2019 03:00. AM. Herald.ie.
  16. Web site: Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2019 League of Ireland Premier Division - UCD -v- St. Patrick's Athletic. www.extratime.ie.
  17. Web site: Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2019 League of Ireland Premier Division - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Shamrock Rovers. www.extratime.ie.
  18. Web site: Waterford Vs St Patricks Athletic - SSE Airtricity League . Sseairtricityleague.ie . 2019-09-03.
  19. Web site: Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2019/2020 Europa League First Qualifying Round - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Norrkoping. www.extratime.ie.
  20. Web site: SSE Airtricity League. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20191023084320/https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/match/derry-city-fc-vs-st-patricks-athletic/id-025K46AIBG000000VUM100GLVVH56HPG. 2019-10-23.
  21. Web site: Extratime.com - Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2019 Leinster Senior Cup Final - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Athlone Town. www.extratime.com.
  22. Web site: O'Donnell pleased with new Saints signings ahead of Derry clash. Paul. O'Hehir. 3 August 2020. Irish Mirror.
  23. Web site: Leinster Senior League: Crumlin hitman ‘not too good for LSL. Jonny. Stapleton. 30 June 2022.
  24. https://twitter.com/braywanderers/status/1602301448179830784?s=46&t=aDQCYr_zRQW6NXrV7H68nA
  25. Web site: League of Ireland player caught with €1,000 worth of cocaine, court told. Tom. Tuite. 14 December 2023. TheJournal.ie.
  26. Web site: Republic of Ireland – J.Walker. Ie.soccerway.com. 2019-07-31.