Arnold Walker

This article is about the international rugby league player. For the World War II RAF pilot, see Arnold Walker (RAF officer).

Arnold 'Boxer' Walker is a former international rugby league player who plied his trade as a Stand-off/Five-eighth, or Scrum-half/Halfback for Cumbrian rivals Workington Town and Whitehaven.

Born in Whitehaven, Arnold earned the nickname 'Boxer' as a child after he received a pair of boxing gloves as a gift; in his own words, "I wore them everyday [sic?], the name just stuck."

He played professional rugby league for both Workington and Whitehaven and has the unusual honour of still being loved by both sets of fans, despite the fierce rivalry that exists between them. He transferred between the clubs for a fee of £30,000. He earned a reputation for being a hard man on the pitch due to his insatiable appetite for battle and fearless style of play no matter who the opposition. He received a career ending neck injury in 1983.

Playing career

International honours

Arnold 'Boxer' Walker won a cap for England while at Whitehaven in 1981 against France,[1] and won a cap for Great Britain while at Whitehaven in 1980 against New Zealand.[2]

County Cup final appearances

Arnold 'Boxer' Walker played Scrum-half/Halfback in Workington Town's 11-16 defeat by Widnes in the 1976 Lancashire Cup final during the 1976–77 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 30 October 1976, played Scrum-half/Halfback, scored 2-drop goals, and was man of the match in the 16-13 victory over Wigan in the 1977 Lancashire Cup final during the 1977–78 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 29 October 1977, played Scrum-half/Halfback, and was man of the match in the 13-15 defeat by Widnes in the 1978 Lancashire Cup final during the 1978–79 season at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 7 October 1978, and played Scrum-half/Halfback in the 0-11 defeat by Widnes in the 1979 Lancashire Cup final during the 1979–80 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 8 December 1979.

Honoured at both Workington Town, and Whitehaven

Arnold 'Boxer' Walker is both a Workington Town and Whitehaven Hall Of Fame Inductee.

Outside of Rugby League

Arnold 'Boxer' Walker still resides in his home town of Kells, Whitehaven.

References

  1. ↑ "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.

External links

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