Nigel Walker R.I.P

From nufc.com

http://www.nufc.com/index.htm

We're saddened to report the passing of ex-Newcastle midfielder Nigel Walker at the age of just 54.

Gateshead-born Nigel joined United in 1977, debuting in a 1-1 home draw with Bristol City in November of that year.

Following relegation, Walker was a more established part of the senior squad and featured for the first team until his 74th and final game, a 1-2 loss at Chelsea during November 1981. He scored three goals for the club.

Spending time in the USA with San Diego Sockers, Nigel returned to the UK and appeared for Crewe Alexandra, sunderland, Blackpool, Chester and Hartlepool.

Training to be a school teacher, he also played for local non-league sides Blyth Spartans and Dunston Fed.

We'll remember him as a hugely talented but inconsistent prospect whose potential was never fully realised - but who remained among our better performers in the immediate pre-Keegan, Waddle and Beardsley era.

 

My goodness. Awful news indeed.

Thanks for the posting.

 

Still remember his last minute winner against Leicester. Had bags of talent.

 

Same age as me. Remember watching him vividly, had tremendous vision.

 

I can't recall him, but my goodness, that is no age at all to die..R.I.P

 

He taught me at Greencroft school, was a maths teacher after playing football, took no **** from anyone in his lessons, we couldn't believe he played for the toon, was a legend in our eyes after we found that out!!

 

Rip

 

I remember him well, I'm maybe older than you.
Clever player, bags of talent, but should have applied himself more. Maybe he was thinking of a future career in teaching when he played for Sunderland. Sad news indeed

 

up date from the Chronicle

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/tributes-paid-former-newcastle-united-6661445

His wife has left a message on the comments

I didn't know he had been ill for so long

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Nicki Walker

11:15 AM on 3/2/2014

I am Nigel's wife Nicki. He died after a long fight with cancer, having had a rare form of lymphoma for 25 years, which he never let get him down and worked through most of the time, then developing secondary malignant melanoma last June. He has fought so hard, with great stoicism, and an undaunted spirit.

 

I've been trying to remember him since this thread first appeared. I'm old enough to have been going to all the home games during his time at the club (though as a kid in the west paddock) and I just can't recall him, not even after seeing his face. Sad news whenever anyone is taken too soon. Far too soon to go. Such a horrible ****ing disease.

 

That's terrible. Not only did he die young, but spent nearly half his life fighting it. Life can be so harsh at times. RIP Nigel.

 

I bet that must have been great as a kid. Was he constantly asked about playing for the Toon?

 

Seems he had a good woman with him to help him through as much as possible anyway.

 

RIP Talented player never quite made it a bit like Bogie

 

RIP Nigel
Playing at a difficult time in a poor team, but he lit it up on occasions

 

We asked him all the time, but he was quite modest about it really, someone brought in a few programmes once and he was on the front of them and we got a few stories from him but he was proper humble about it all. He took our football team for a few years and was brilliant, you could tell he knew football, it's a massive shame like, really nice bloke

 

The good die young so they say.