A FORMER England youth hat-trick hero who lined-up with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Conor Gallagher is now gunning for glory in Sunday League.
Ex-Middlesbrough striker Stephen Walker, 22, grabbed a treble for the Younger Lions in a 6-2 win over Macedonia again in 2018.
Stephen Walker was an England youth hotshot and performed with a number of now Prem starsCredit score: The FA
The striker, who performed with Bukayo Saka, is now eyeing Sunday League successCredit score: Alamy
Ex-Middlesbrough ahead Stephen Walker has joined formidable Belle Vue RoversCredit score: Getty
He took residence the matchball that afternoon after main the road in a aspect packed stuffed with youngsters that may go on to play beneath Gareth Southgate at senior degree.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and Chelsea midfielder Gallagher have been in that beginning XI, whereas Arsenal celebrity Saka made an look off the bench.
And fellow full England internationals Callum Hudson-Odoi, now at Nottingham Forest, and Gunners ace Emile Smith Rowe additionally featured on that afternoon.
However regardless of all of them now being Premier League regulars, the person who scored a hat-trick is hoping to resurrect his personal climb to the highest along with his native aspect on a Sunday morning.
Walker scored 9 instances in 17 caps for his nation at youth degree and even performed within the Championship for hometown membership Middlesbrough after graduating from their academy.
He made his Boro debut within the Carabao Cup towards Notts County in 2018 and went on to play an additional eight instances for the membership.
Walker loved mortgage stints within the Soccer League with MK Dons and Crewe, who he scored his first skilled aim for in a 2-0 win over Macclesfield in February 2020.
After back-to-back promotions from League Two with the 2 respective golf equipment, Walker headed again to each for spells within the 2020/2021 marketing campaign however struggled to duplicate his earlier type.
A swap to Tranmere Rovers adopted however he was restricted to simply three outings for them within the EFL Trophy.
Walker was launched by Middlesbrough this summer season and ended up signing for Northern League Division One within the ninth tier.
Nonetheless, he additionally lately turned out for formidable Stockton Sunday League aspect Belle Vue Rovers and celebrated his debut with a strike in a 5-2 Premiership win over Yarm Athletic final month.
Now he’s making ready to attempt to fireplace the membership to glory within the All England Sunday Cup – the nationwide knockout competitors to crown the nation’s greatest Sunday League aspect.
They face their native rivals Norton George & Dragon, who’re the reigning title holders of the Stockton League, this weekend within the first spherical of the much-loved competitors.
And he additionally has a well-recognized face in one other ex-Middlesbrough striker making an attempt to assist Belle Vue progress into the following spherical.
Tyrone O’Neill, 23, was one other lad making an attempt to impress on the Riverside when he obtained into the first-team set-up.
Nonetheless, he solely managed to make one look as sub in a 4-0 defeat to Leeds within the Championship again in November 2019 earlier than his departure from the Riverside.
After mortgage spells at Hartlepool and Darlington in non-league and a quick stint at Scunthorpe United in League Two, he’s now additionally enjoying regionally on each a Saturday and Sunday.
Stephen Walker scored a hat-trick for England U19s towards MacedoniaCredit score: The FA