Scottish footballer
Mark McWalter (born 20 June 1968, in Arbroath) is a Scottish former football striker.
McWalter began his career with his local club Arbroath where as a teenager he became a first team regular. His form attracted the attentions of top-flight St Mirren, who signed him in June 1987.[2] In and out of the team at Love Street, he joined Partick Thistle in June 1991 in a swap deal that saw he and George Shaw exchanged for Chic Charnley and David Elliot.[3] McWalter's spell at Partick was an unhappy one however as he failed to score.
After being released by Partick McWalter moved to the Irish Football League with Coleraine and became a 'cult hero' at the club.[4] He was linked with the manager's job after the departure of Felix Healy in 1994 but lost out to Kenny Shiels, a manager with whom he would later clash, resulting in McWalter moving to Ballymena United for a year.[4] He was the club's top scorer in his sole season.[5]
McWalter returned to Scotland in 1996 to play three final seasons back at Gayfield Park. Unable to cope with the rigours of full-time football due a persistent knee injury McWalter left full-time football to carry on playing in the juniors with Arbroath Victoria. He spent five seasons with the club, including two as player-manager before retiring and leaving football completely.[4] Having retired he became a youth worker, running a project from Arbroath's old supporters' club.[6]
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