Walsall's cult heroes

This vote is now closed.

Jimmy Walker has been voted Walsall's all-time cult hero by Football Focus viewers.

Walker won with 49% of the vote ahead of fellow Walsall favourites Chris Marsh and Alan Buckley.

JIMMY WALKER: 49%

By far the best goalkeeper and most loyal Saddler I have ever come across so far. He played a major part in 2 promotion winning sides, and was also part of 2 relegation teams and still stayed loyal to the Saddlers until West Ham offered him a contract in June '04 which was too good to refuse. He also is the only Saddler who has ever written his own book and has his own website created for him by Saddlers fans. He also spent 10 years at the club as a good servant and tremendous player.
Simon Allen

Best goalie I have ever seen. Brilliant shot stopper, the crowd at Bescot loved him from the start of his career to the end. Superb player.
M Wright

10 years as Walsall's keeper, many came to try and take his place - none did for long. One of the smallest keepers in the league at 5'11", but arguably one of the best outside the Premiership. Walsall fans are often heard saying that if he was a couple of inches taller he would be in the frame for an international call-up. "Whacka" will be best remembered for his shot-stopping and his wicked sense of humour (which also got him in trouble with managers over the years).
Steve Rushton

Legend. Probably the greatest player to turn out for the Saddlers. What a goalkeeper.Anon.

CHRIS MARSH: 13%

Now he was never the most talented footballer, but there was something about him, that always put a smile on your face. He was an average right back, who would like to go forward. He always tried. The fans loved him. He would always do his 'step over' before crossing a ball. His 'step over' was usually better than his cross. He was also someone to point the blame to, when things were not going well, but strangely not in a nasty way, more of a comical way. He seemed a player you could see and have a pint with after the game.
Steve Hockell

Chris Marsh was one of the young players to make it on professional terms after breaking through the youth academy in 1986/87. He was a local lad, born in the Birmingham area. Unlike many footballers in this day and age, 'Marshy' could play in every position on a football field (utility player) - the majority of his games in a Saddlers shirt was played in a right back or left back position, but has played in goal and as a loan striker at times. Chris was a major cult hero at the Bescot with his recognised "step over" and spent over 11 years as a player at the club until being released by Colin Lee in 2001/2.
Simon Allen

Over 400 appearances for us, have seen the majority of them. Had a side step and tried to do it every match. Another crowd favourite.
M Wright

13 years with one club - Chris served the club from youth team until his 30s, from the depths of division 4 to the first division. Chris was best known for his "step-over" which although obvious to all Walsall fans, still managed to trick the opposition week after week. He was also an "all-rounder" playing on the wing, at right or left back and even in goal when needed on a couple of occasions.
Steve Rushton

ALAN BUCKLEY: 38%

Record all-time scorer for the Saddlers and player-manager. Played best attacking football I have witnessed under him, taking us to the semi-final of the Milk Cup in 1984 and drawing with Liverpool at Anfield. Cruelly sacked in 1986 when new owners took over.
M Wright

Little but lethal. A true Saddler.
M Hawkins

Still the club's record goalscorer. Played from 1975 until 1986 and was also player-manager from 1979 until 1986.
Ray Dale