Next up in our Player Profile series is Glasshoughton Welfare stalwart captain and former golden boot winer Adam Walsh who regales us with some tales from his time at Leeds Road.
Never one to shirk showing some steel during matches, Walsh has been an integral part of their most memorable wins over the last few years and has been around during the good and bad times.
Name
Adam Walsh
Position
Centre-Back
Age
29
Day Job
New build project surveyor
Previous clubs
N/A
Based
Castleford
Biggest Influence
From playing in the reserves from around age 18/19 I played with Matt Cressey who has played a very high level for a decent amount of time so playing alongside him I managed to learn a lot. I was playing centre half and he was my left back so we were always talking about positioning and what I could do better, how I could influence a game from centre half etc. We played together for a good few years and it was good just to get that experience and knowledge from him. His commitment to the game was unquestionable and he was probably the fittest player in the squad (even though he was by far the oldest) and he is still playing today at the ripe old age of 42 (I think) which is incredible.
Description of Career Highlight
In 2018/2019, even though Glasshoughton finished outside the promotion spots, from a personal perspective I had the best season I’ve ever had since starting football when I was eight. As a team we were playing some good football and especially after Christmas we went on a good run of wins which ultimately pushed me into playing well. That season I won all 5 trophies at the presentation evening and even scooped the top goal scorer awarded with eight from centre back – which was excellent for me but a little embarrassing for the strikers that year. Granted that season we signed a fair few players and I think I was maybe the only one who started and finished the season. I think Nathan perks came in for the last few games and he finished on seven goals from like four games which was a good feat but ultimately the records will say I won golden boot and he didn’t…
Lowest Moment in Football
This was probably when we got relegated from the Premier Division finishing bottom (in 2015) after only winning a handful of games. It was always going to be a hard season as it was ultimately the previous season’s reserves who stepped up part way through the previous season. We finished that season strong beating the likes of Taddy but the following season we struggled to keep a core of players and especially with a low budget we just simply weren’t good enough to compete that year.
Description of Most Memorable Match
For me this was probably the best game I have played in. Rob Hunter left the first team and (reserve team chief) Jon Miles was placed in caretaker charge and he basically used the Glassy reserves for the rest of the season. In one game we went to Tadcaster Albion and they needed to win to keep pushing for the Evo Stik. We turned up and the ground was packed from 1.30pm with Taddy fans. There were mascots walking us out, flag bearers and i think there was a half time turn on so they were pulling out the big stops for this game. Anyway us “reserves” dominated from start to finish and won the game 1-0 after probably trying to keep it in the corner since the 60th minute. It was a good day in terms of deflating Taddy’s Evo Stik push if you like and we stayed in changing rooms for an hour or so after having a good drink and just enjoying the moment. The game didn’t mean anything to us in terms of league positions etc but it felt like winning a final come the end of the game and it os one that I will always remember.
Funniest Moment in Football
This will probably stick with me forever and people still remind me of this six years on. I can’t remember the team but we were playing at home and early in the game I make last ditch slide tackle and played the ball out. I carried on playing as normal and then walked to the sideline to take a free kick when an old woman just strolled over to me. She shouted “excuse me, excuse me” and then casually told me that as I made the slide tackle, my shorts must have rode up my leg and left a few things dangling out. I didn’t know what she was trying to tell me at first but she couldn’t stop laughing and the nearby supporters started sniggering once they realised. Once I found out what she was trying to tell me through her tears of laughter I managed to rearrange my shorts, tucked everything back in to where they should be and carried on with the game. I would just like to say sorry to the old woman who had to point it out and can I just emphasise to her that even though it was an August game, it was still a bit chilly…
First semi-professional manager
Phil Riding (Glasshoughton’s answer to Mike Bassett)
Non League Debut
I played for Phil Riding on a few occasions but I can’t really remember them games (simply because we got relegated with around hardly any points so I like to blank that season out). Back in 2014 when Jon Miles was in caretaker charge we played Heanor Town at home. The ground was packed and they brought a good few coaches of supporters. We took the lead just before half time when Del Pollock smashed in a shot from around 40 yards. We were going well that game but Henor scored two goals in the last few minutes to take the win.
Description of First Red Card (at semi-professional level):
Surprisingly up until 2018 I never received a red card in my career and then in the space of around five months I got three. The first red card we were playing Parkgate in the FA Vase but I was going away to America later that day so I was umming and arring if I wanted to play or not. After been persuaded by the gaffer I took to the field and then within four minutes I was back on the sidelines with my suitcase and passport in hand. The midfielder made a break and played the ball to the striker and then I went in with what I thought was a perfectly well timed one footed tackle to set up a counter attack. Whereas the ref saw it as a two footed lunge and knee level. After five minutes of me trying to defend my case the referee just laughed and sent me for an early shower. We won the game and I went on holiday injury free so it was a win win all around.
Description of First Goal (at semi-professional level
I can’t remember my first ever goal but no doubt it would have been a worldie header from four yards out, probably top bins aswell.
What do you want to achieve in football in the future
I don’t really have an end goal as such, probably just to keep playing for as long as I can. I’m nearly 30 now so I would I like to think I have still got a good few more years left in me. By the end of my career I would have been at Glassy for around 20 years so I suppose my future achievement would be a statue of me outside the ground which seems the obvious choice.
Favourite Non League Ground I’ve played at (barring your own club)
Probably Taddy Albion’s would be my best ground. It’s always been an excellent surface to play on (as long as it hasn’t flooded) , good facilities and I’ve enjoyed some good success playing down there even if I did cop a fair amount of abuse from there loyal supporters.
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