ROBERT WALKER
— "Bauldie" | 04/03/1904 —

Just as there is but one novel with this popular title, so there is in broad Scotland but one class player of the name. True it is he has a partner, but then he is Johnny Walker, that, too, being a name very familiar and very popular, not alone in this, but on the other side of the Border. Previous to dealing with Robert Walker's career, I should say what Artist Gainsborough said of the famous Duchess of Devonshire, that he is "a subject after my own heart." In personal traits, and on play this may be said with absolute truth. He is not a bouncer or a boaster, nor yet is he a prancer or a pacer, such as Templeton, whom he partnered at Sheffield last year. He is only a walker, but a beauty at that. He vividly recalls to my mind by his brainy and studious going the once famous J. B. Weir, of Queen's Park; John Goodall, of Kilmarnock Athletic; James M'Coll, of Renton; and James Hannah, of Third Lanark. All these were artists of the inimitable order; all had uninterpretable and unstoppable methods on the ball. I have alluded to one artist,, so I quote another, whose remark is most appropriate with reference to these players, and to my subject. It is told of Sir John Opie, when asked by a savant what he mixed his paints with, replied instanter — "With Braius, Sir."

That, gentleman, is just the very scarce commodity with which Robert Walker, the Heart of Midlothian, mixes his football. No player, not excepting the past brilliants I have named, excels him in this art, or in that to a player (especially a forward) of thinking on his feet, and put his thought instantaneously into operation and into effect. As a maker of openings, an initiator of moves, as a placer to his partners, as an outwitter of opponents, as a seizer of what my junior colleagues poetically describe as "golden opportunities," Robert Walker is par excellence, not only the Scottish forward of the day, but I go further and claim him as the headiest of British forward players.

I could cite you many instances of this feature in his play, but will let a recent one suffice. It was in the last Cup tie, Hearts v. Rangers, at Ibrox. On that occasion he had worked in his usual dogged methodical way, waiting and watching like Micawber, for something to turn up. Hearts ran him down, and as Rangers were fairly into their game and stride, there seemed little or no hope of Walker's yearning being answered. He pegged away, however, dourly, occasionally bestowing a sly look at sunny Jacky Robertson opposite, who, on the way to victory, was sunnier looking than usual. Unfortunately for "Jacky," however, he gave, when pressed, a stupid short pass back, and instead of Fraser getting the ball, Robert Walker pounced on it and pranced away direct to goal, which he succeeded in capturing. Thus his chance came, and he took it, greatly to the delight of the ten o' Hearts, who beat as one in unison and in praise of the master. The turn of speed he put on in this worthy effort fairly surprised the onlookers, for his style is so close and his command of the ball so great that you do not, until he is clear away by himself, see his pace or his stride. Not only is Robert Walker all I claim for him, but he is more. Thus he is a maker of others. His placings to his partners are so accurate and so helpful as to draw out all their powers and contribute to their personal perfection. Take his work with his chub partner Bell for example. He places straight ahead to this lad, with the result that he forges ahead like a greyhound. Walker's passes to John Walker and to R. C. Hamilton, his 'National partners at Paisley a week ago, were also on occasion of this order, and the most of these the Scottish head centre and right winger received just the better will it be for Scotland at Dundee. Please note "Warrior" Sloan en passant. Another aspect of Robert Walker's headiness or craftiness, if you will, is seen in the delusive and seductive manner in which he decoys and draws out a defence from its base of operations as it were. By this he concentrates the attention of the backs or half-backs on himself, and this done he then deftly parts with the ball to his comrades in waiting, who, as a rule, is selected because of the position he is in to score. Still another aspect of his headiness I may deal with. This refers to his play on the run or meeting an opposing half or back. He will feint first to make for the right side of the tackler, but then with a half turn body swerve he will burst away to the left and leave his opponents in the lurch, whilst he "larfs" inwardly and walks along to goal with his crocodilian eye fixed on it. I know of no more unreadable uninterpretable player in football to-day. There is hardly any getting at him, so crafty, so clever is he. Happy ought the country be that has such a gem within its borders, happy the club which has such a talented one in its membership, and happy the partners who have the pleasure to be alongside him in any match. Personally he has some traits characteristic. Thus he is a walker not a talker.

When he opens his mouth, however, it is always to say something worth hearing. He is pawky, fond of a joke, and used to enjoy one with Ins old 'National "Pal," Alec Smith, of Rangers. I finish by summarising his club and 'National career. He was originally of the Dalry Primrose, and was capped as a junior v. England. He joined Hearts in 1896, and since then has been capped on twenty occasions, as follows: — Association v. England — 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903; v. Wales, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904; v. Ireland, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903; League v. England, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903; v. Ireland, 1902, 1903; and Junior v. England 1896. May he continue Walking" to further honours and wear more crowns.