Mark McWalter

Mark McWalter
Personal information
Full name Mark McWalter
Date of birth (1968-06-20) 20 June 1968
Place of birth Arbroath, Scotland
Playing position forward
Youth career
Arbroath Lads Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1984–1987 Arbroath 70 (20)
1987–1991 St Mirren 80 (8)
1991–1993 Partick Thistle 19 (0)
1993–1995 Coleraine 35 (17)
1995–1996 Ballymena United 20 (8)
1996–1999 Arbroath 59 (9)
1999–2004 Arbroath Victoria[1] ? (?)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

Mark McWalter (born 20 June 1968 in Arbroath) is a Scottish former football striker.

McWalter began his career with his local club Arbroath where as a teenager he became a first team regular. His form attracted the attentions of top-flight St Mirren, who signed him in June 1987.[2] In and out of the team at Love Street, he joined Partick Thistle in June 1991 in a swap deal that saw he and George Shaw exchanged for Chic Charnley and David Elliot.[3] McWalter's spell at Partick was an unhappy one however as he failed to score.

After being released by Partick McWalter moved to the Irish Football League with Coleraine and became a 'cult hero' at the club.[4] He was linked with the manager's job after the departure of Felix Healy in 1994 but lost out to Kenny Shiels, a manager with whom he would later clash, resulting in McWalter moving to Ballymena United for a year.[4] He was the club's top scorer in his sole season.[5]

McWalter returned to Scotland in 1996 to play three final seasons back at Gayfield Park. Unable to cope with the rigours of full-time football due a persistent knee injury McWalter left full-time football to carry on playing in the juniors with Arbroath Victoria. He spent five seasons with the club, including two as player-manager before retiring and leaving football completely.[4] Having retired he became a youth worker, running a project from Arbroath's old supporters' club.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Career statistics
  2. ↑ M. Gillespie, The Northern Ireland Football Yearbook 1996-97, p. 199
  3. ↑ David Elliot profile
  4. 1 2 3 Interview on Coleraine site
  5. ↑ M. Gillespie, The Northern Ireland Football Yearbook 1996-97, p. 172
  6. ↑ Smokies get in your eyes from The Scotsman
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