Featured: Red of the Day - Mark Walters

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Mark Everton Walters began his career as an apprentice at Aston Villa, making his debut in April 1982 at the tender age of 17 in a 4–1 league defeat to Leeds United at Villa Park.

 

Walters appeared 234 times and scored 48 goals in the 5 years he spent at his boyhood favourites before an offer of £550,000 from Scottish side Rangers tempted Walters into a move north of the border.

 

After taking over the manager's position at Anfield, Graeme Souness went back to his old club Rangers to snap up winger Mark Walters for £1.3 million in the summer of 1991. Walters had made a big impression in Scotland but was eager for a move back to the top flight in England and Liverpool represented a marvellous opportunity for him to show off his talents.

 

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.

 

Souness had brought Walters back to England hoping that he would terrorize first Division defences as he had done in Scotland.  However, this failed to materialize with the kind of performances he'd produced at Rangers coming too infrequently in a red shirt, although he certainly had his moments and is remembered fondly by many.

 

His finest hour came during 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.

 

Walters was Liverpool's first ever Premiership goalscorer 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.

 

When Liverpool beat Bolton Wanderers 2–1 in the 1995 Coca-Cola Cup final, he was again an unused substitute.  Walters was being used less and less as Roy Evans was now operating with a 3-5-2 formation with Rob Jones and Stig Inge Bjørnebye as wing-backs.  Walters didn't fit into that system and found himself out in the cold.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Date of Birth:02/06/64 Nationality: English  Postition: Winger  Games: 124 Goals: 19 ClubHons: FA Cup 1992, League Cup 1995 Int Hons: 1 England cap Other Clubs: Aston Villa, Rangers, Stoke (loan), Wolves (loan), Southampton, Swindon, Bristol Rovers Mark WALTERS 1991-96

 

 

 

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[ZonkoVille77]

He was shite. A step over was all he had and all he ever attempted. Brutal player

[dave u]

I always liked him, he was a good player but he wasn't John Barnes, and that always counted against him.  We signed him when Barnesy was out injured and he had to step in for him, which was never going to be easy.

 

Didn't he score in that game when we stopped the Mancs winning the title?  

[sh#t waffle]

He's ace in Masters football.

[rubble-rouser]

He did indeed score the second against Utd in 91/92, following on from Rushie's 1st ever goal against the Mancs, stopping Utd winning the league.

 

That hat-trick against Coentry was superb - one of the goals was a dribble and sot from 25 yards.

 

He suffered from comparisons with Barnes and the emerging McMananman.  He would have been a decent squad player in a stronger side, but he was  emblematic of Liverpool as a club at that time: a  less talented player than those he was replacing (Houghton, Beardsley etc). 

[kemskem]

Rubbish. He was all hyped up like all new Liverpool signings were and our expectations were obviously high (mine were anyway). Just his name reminds me of the depressing demise we had under Souey.

[Strontium]

I always liked him, he was a good player but he wasn't John Barnes, and that always counted against him.  We signed him when Barnesy was out injured and he had to step in for him, which was never going to be easy.

 

Didn't he score in that game when we stopped the Mancs winning the title?  

 

[Strontium]

Dunno what happened to my post, let's try again.

 

Didn't he score in that game when we stopped the Mancs winning the title?

That's mainly what I remember him for.

 

Last season before the PL started, so was that the last live televised top flight goal on terrestrial TV?

[Stickman]

He also scored twice against Blackburn in 92/93 season which might not seem much but it was Kenny's first game back at Anfield and at the time was a pretty big occasion with a great atmosphere...The winner was a cracker and probably his best goal for us.

 

The Auxerre goal was pretty special too....but ultimately as was said earlier he was unfairly compared to Barnes at the time.

I do remember for Villa though he always gave Phil Neal a really hard time.