A tenacious midfielder, Graham Westley signed Simon Walton to add a robust dimension to our midfield ahead of the 2014-5 League Two season. He arrived after being released by former employers and divisional rivals Hartlepool United. Establishing himself as a very useful player, his signature gave the chance for him to drag us back up the pyramid with thoughts of kicking on even further.
It almost came to fruition, too. Boro’ gallantly went down to a strong Southend United team in the 2015 League Two playoffs; Walton a key fixture in the midfield. With the club looking to take a different direction going forward, however, Walton found himself allowed to leave the club that summer.
Simon Walton: Before Boro’
In two years at Hartlepool, he made a significant number of appearances; gaining valuable experience at League One and Two levels. And it was Hartlepool that ended four years on the books of Plymouth Argyle; a time punctuated by loan spells and Argyle’s cash worries.
Walton started at hometown club Leeds United; springing to attention by getting sent off in a friendly against Valencia aged 16. But he obviously did something right, picking up England caps at U16, U17 and U19 levels. After making a decent number of appearances for Leeds in his two years at Elland Road, less fruitful spells at Charlton Athletic and QPR followed. It was after this point that his move to Home Park came about.
