Born in Wednesbury on 29th October 1897, his father George was a professional footballer with Wolves and Crystal Palace who following his retirement for football returned to live in Darlaston where the young Bill Walker lived with his family at 1 Cope Street.

Originally signed Amateur forms for Aston Villa, made his Darlaston League debut as a 17 year-old away at Bilston United on 9th October 1915. He was a regular in Darlaston’s 1915/16 Walsall Combination League winning team with his two goals against Hednesford Town on the final day of the 1915/16 League Season securing the League Title. He started 1916/17 Season at Darlaston before moving to Wednesday Old Park.

In his autobiography "Soccer in the Blood" Walker wrote
"People often say to me you were never transferred were you? and I smile and let it go. But the fact is that I once was transferred. The Price? The price of two whiskies the secretary of Darlaston bought for himself and the secretary of Wednesbury Old Park from whom he got my services".

What a bargain for a future England International

Following the war, he signed professional for Villa in May 1919 scoring twice on his League debut against Q.P.R. in January 1920. Less than four months later he collected an F.A. Cup winners medal when Villa beat Huddersfield in the final at Stanford Bridge.

Walker made his England debut aged 22 against Ireland at Roker Park on 23rd October 1920 scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win. That was the first of his 18 England appearances. He scored 9 goals and Captained the side on three occasions, the first on 21st May 1925 a 3-2 win against France in the Stade Colombes in 1925 the others, a 2-0 defeat against Scotland at Old Trafford and in his final match a 4-3 victory over Austria at Stanford Bridge in 1932.

He scored 244 goals in 531 matches in all competitions for Villa and is their all-time leading goal scorer.

Walker went on to manage Sheffield Wednesday and Notts Forest where he was in charge for 21 years. In his time at Notts Forest he signed former Darlaston player Jack Burkitt who skippered Forest to the 1959 F.A. Cup Final and guided Wednesday in 1935 and Forest in 1959 to F.A. Cup Final successes.