James Luke Newton Walker (born 25 November 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. Career Charlton Athletic Walker was released by Charlton in 2006, but was invited back on a trial by new manager Iain Dowie during pre-season, and he impressed by scoring against Millwall, Germinal Beerschot and Hibernian, earning a new one-year contract. He has loan spells with Hartlepool United, Bristol Rovers (where he scored his first career goal against Boston United), Leyton Orient, Notts County and Yeovil Town. He is a former England under-18 international. On 23 November 2006, Walker joined Leyton Orient on a two-month loan deal. He scored with his final touch for the club in a 5–2 away win against Millwall on 20 February 2007. He joined Notts County on loan in March 2007 and later joined Yeovil Town on a three-month loan in October 2007. There is a popular chant that fans scream at his matches which is "We appreciate James". There are even multiple facebook groups called "The James Appreciation Club". Southend United After returning in January 2008, he was close to joining another League One side, Southend United, for £200,000. However, the move was cancelled after he was discovered to have an irregular heart rhythm after he failed a medical. The following month he was signed on loan by Southend, and scored on his debut against AFC Bournemouth. At the start of Southend's 2008–09 season, Walker was used as a winger rather than a striker. On 13 December 2008, in the club's League One game against Huddersfield Town, Walker missed a penalty which would have put Southend on level terms, instead Southend slipped to a 1–0 defeat. On 20 January 2009, Walker came off the bench against Leyton Orient to rescue a point in the sixth minute of injury time with an individual effort after taking on four defenders. On 22 September 2009, Walker joined Hereford United on a month's loan spell. He made his debut in a 4–1 loss to Rochdale on 26 September 2009. He then scored his first goal against Dagenham & Redbridge on 3 October 2009, and his second goal followed three days later in a Football League Trophy tie against Aldershot Town. Hereford were keen to extend Walker's loan but after his initial month he wanted to return to Southend to fight for his place in their side. Gillingham On 1 February