Arnold Walker (rugby league)

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

Arnold Walker

Personal information
Full name	Thomas Arnold Walker
Born	(1952-04-15) 15 April 1952 Whitehaven, England
Playing information
Position	Stand-off, Scrum-half
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1971–80 Workington Town 191+4 53 2 35 1980–≥83/84 Whitehaven Total 195 53 2 35 0 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P ≤1980–≥80 Cumbria 19 ≥1 1981 England 1 0 0 0 0 1980 Great Britain 1 0 0 0 0
Source:

Arnold Walker (born 15 April 1952), also known by the nickname of "Boxer", is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Cumbria, and at club level for Kells A.R.L.F.C., and Cumbrian rivals; Workington Town and Whitehaven, as a stand-off, or scrum-half, i.e. number 6, or 7.

Background

Arnold 'Boxer' Walker was born in Whitehaven, Cumberland, England, he 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 worked for 12-years at the Haig Colliery, Kells, Whitehaven.

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 (based on inflation, this would be equivalent to £162,486 in 2023) (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately equivalent to £173,400 in 2017), 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. Arnold 'Boxer' Walker still resides in his home town of Kells, Whitehaven.

Playing career

International honours

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

International honours

Arnold 'Boxer' Walker won cap(s) for Cumbria while at Workington Town, including the 9-3 victory over New Zealand at Recreation Ground, Whitehaven during October 1980.

County Cup Final appearances

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

Open Rugby World XIII

Arnold 'Boxer' Walker was selected at scrum-half in the 1980 Open Rugby World XIII.

Honoured at both Workington Town, and Whitehaven

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

External links

• The Immortals… and the Hall of Fame
• (archived by web.archive.org) » Legends Evening 70's
• Big hearted Boxer had the X factor