Richard Walker

Love Trickie Dickie.

Tricky Dickie and King Rickie did very well, especially considering their combined top speed is that of a moped

both good players to watch though. Tricky Dickie's Bergkampesque goal at Wem-bi-lee, and King Rickie's goals against 82 and at Luton being my most memorables

Unfortunately RW became a bit of a one season wonder, surely to be a "great" you need to have more than one good season? One of the hero's of our promotion season but surely not one of the all time greats?

Must be the first person in our new hall of fame at the new UWE Stadium, lets hope he lives long enough to view it

At the end of the promotion season Walker could have been considered our top striker, which is quite a thing when he was playing with Lambert who would go on to play for Liverpool and England. Funny how Lambert moved forward and Walker never really adjusted to the higher level. Even when he dropped back down a level he would never reach the heights he did that year. No doubt will always be a legend for the goals scored in the playoff final quite apart from those scored before that day.

The best finisher I've ever seen in a Rovers shirt.  Better even than Stewart, Hayles, Roberts and Lambert in that department.  Pretty much all he really had in his locker but my goodness he was superb when given a sniff of goal as shown most obviously in the playoff semi finals and final.  Certainly not under rated in my book; even with Lambert we don't get promotion in 2007 without Walker, he was the key forward player in that side.  I'm quite happy to embrace him as a great Rovers striker.  Carl Saunders and Jamie Cureton normally get talked of in those terms so I'll happily put Richard Walker with them.

Walker scored 60 goals in about 140 games for us. MAy not make him an all time great, but a bit bette rthan a one season wonder

At least you are polite 

"Walks" is one of my favourite Rovers players, of all time.

Typically underrated and a player who I think people were quick, to pick out his flaws but all too slow in recognising his talents. If this thread helps convince me otherwise, then I'm all for it.

Season 2004/05 - Played 27 league games, 10 league goals. (32 games, 14 goals, all competitions).

Season 2005/06 - Played 46 league games, 20 league goals. (52 games, 21 goals, all competitions).

Season 2006/07 - Played 49 league games, 16 league goals. (60 games, 22 goals, all competitions).

Across those three seasons:

122 League games, 46 League goals. 144 games in all competitions, 57 goals.

Walker was brought in on a free transfer and was the foundation of our forward line during the period when we sold Junior Agogo to Nottingham Forest. Rickie Lambert came in and the partnership between them helped bring out the best in each of their styles.

Neither was blessed with much pace. Walker was the more composed and possibly the better finisher but Lambert was more likely to get you a goal from nothing and possessed more flair.

My Dad and I were fortunate enough to be at both the Play-Off Semi Finals vs Lincoln and the Final vs Shrewsbury. Lambert had already demonstrated his brilliance in the league games that originally swept us into the Play-Offs. Once the regular season games were done though, it was mostly about Richard Walker adding the final, golden touches to a wonderful season.

His sublime, volleyed winner in the first leg, ensured we went to Sincil Bank with a lead. The quick thinking by Steve Elliot to pick out the intelligent run of Walker was given the finish it deserved, as "Walks" caressed the ball beyond the Imps keeper.

After assisting Lambert with a great cross for Rovers' second goal of the night, Lambert returned the favour for "Walks" to poach another for the Gas.

The two goals he grabbed in the Final would have been part of any highlight reel for the 06/07 season, if scored by a Premier or top European player. The excellence in his movement for both goals, the perfection required to score from both chances (as they were far from easy) helped highlight Walker's talent in the grandest stadium of them all.

The commentator, following Walker's first goal said "that was a thing of beauty for Bristol Rovers." and he was spot on.

Gary Birtles (I think he was the co-commentator) describing Walker's second goal, said: "The first one was a class finish, this is even better". Again, total agreement from myself.

His last season for The Gas was disappointing but it should not imbalance what was a very good time to have him at the club. He was part of a Rovers side that clinched only our third promotion in our history and for that, along with his goals, assists and attitude should make him a very well remembered player, at the very least.