| Zain Walker | |
| Fullname: | Zain Alexander Walker[1] |
| Birth Date: | 8 January 2002 |
| Birth Place: | Wandsworth, England |
| Height: | 1.73m (05.68feet) |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Welling United |
| Youthclubs1: | Fulham |
| Youthclubs2: | Bristol Rovers |
| Years1: | 2018–2022 |
| Clubs1: | Bristol Rovers |
| Caps1: | 11 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2021 |
| Clubs2: | → King's Lynn Town (loan) |
| Caps2: | 4 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2021 |
| Clubs3: | → Chippenham Town (loan) |
| Caps3: | 1 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs4: | King's Lynn Town |
| Caps4: | 21 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs5: | Aldershot Town |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs6: | → Bishop's Stortford (loan) |
| Caps6: | 19 |
| Goals6: | 1 |
| Years7: | 2024 |
| Clubs7: | → Bishop's Stortford (loan) |
| Caps7: | 2 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Years8: | 2024– |
| Clubs8: | Welling United |
| Caps8: | 0 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 12:07, 31 May 2024 (UTC) |
Zain Alexander Walker (born 8 January 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Welling United.
Born in Wandsworth, Walker began his career with Fulham, moving to Bristol Rovers at the age of 16.[2] He made his debut on 13 November 2018 in the EFL Trophy, one of four Bristol Rovers players (alongside Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Connor Jones and Theo Widdrington) to do so in that match.[3] Walker also became the first player born in the 2000s to play for Bristol Rovers.[4]
On 4 September 2020, Walker signed a new two-year deal contract with Rovers with an option for a further year, following an impressive pre-season.[5] Walker made his first league appearance for the club in a 4–1 defeat to Doncaster Rovers coming off of the bench in the 74 minute.[6] Having featured off of the bench a few times, Rovers' third manager of the season Joey Barton promoted both Walker and fellow Development Squad player Pablo Martinez to train with the first team in early March 2021 as Rovers fought to avoid relegation.[7] Walker made his full debut for the club when he started on 27 March 2021 in a 1–0 home defeat to Sunderland.[8]
On 8 September 2021, Walker joined National League side King's Lynn Town on a one-month youth loan deal.[9] He made his debut that weekend, starting and playing 66 minutes of a 2–1 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge.[10]
On 12 November 2021, Walker joined National League South side Chippenham Town on loan along with his Rovers teammate Cameron Hargreaves.[11] He made his debut the following day but was forced off after 30 minutes with a muscle injury.[12]
On 19 January 2022, Walker joined National League side King's Lynn Town for an undisclosed fee having spent time on loan there earlier in the season.[13] [14]
In July 2023, Walker signed for National League club Aldershot Town on a one-year deal, reuniting with former King's Lynn manager Tommy Widdrington.[15]
On 2 August 2023, he joined National League North club Bishop's Stortford on loan until January 2024.[16] [17] The loan ended in January 2024.[18] He returned to the club the following month on loan until the end of the season.[19]
Walker was released by Aldershot upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2023–24 season.[20]
On 31 May 2024, Walker joined National League South club Welling United.[21]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Bristol Rovers | 2018–19 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019–20 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | League One | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |||
| King's Lynn Town (loan) | 2021–22 | National League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Chippenham Town (loan) | 2021–22 | National League South | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| King's Lynn Town | 2021–22 | National League | 7 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | National League North | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |||
| Total | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |||
| Aldershot Town | 2023–24 | National League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Bishop's Stortford (loan) | 2023–24 | National League North | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 24 | 1 | ||
| Career Total | 58 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 72 | 1 | |||