Famous Players – The 1990’s

Ray Walker

Cultured midfielder Ray Walker was signed for just £12,000 from Aston Villa in 1986 after an earlier loan spell in 1984.

Known as the ‘Glen Hoddle of the lower leagues’ Ray was a set-piece expert and briefly shot to national fame with a stunning goal that helped Vale to knock Tottenham Hotspur out of the FA Cup in 1988. The midfield partnership that game – Walker and Robbie Earle – was a regular first-choice pairing under manager John Rudge with Walker’s skill complementing Earle’s energy perfectly.

Ray was voted Player of the Year twice in 1998 and 1991 and was included in the PFA divisional Team of the Season on two successive seasons.  During his 11 years at the Vale he appeared in over 400 first team games making him 4th in the list of the club’s all-time appearance makers.

In many fans’ eyes Walker is amongst the classiest midfielders ever to play for the club and in May 2019 he was voted into the “Ultimate Port Vale XI” by members of the One Vale Fan supporter website.

He is currently Football in the Community Officer at Crewe Alexandra.