Alexander David Wall (born 22 September 1990) is an English semi-professional
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...
who plays as a
striker
Striker or The Strikers may refer to:
People
*A participant in a strike action
*A participant in a hunger strike
*Blacksmith's striker, a type of blacksmith's assistant
*Striker's Independent Society, the oldest mystic krewe in America
People wi ...
for
Dartford
Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent, England. It is located south-east of Central London and
is situated adjacent to the London Borough of Bexley to its west. To its north, across the Thames estuary, is Thurrock in ...
.
Career
Thatcham Town
Born in
Thatcham
Thatcham is an historic market town and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire, centred 3 miles (5 km) east of Newbury, 14 miles (24 km) west of Reading and 54 miles (87 km) west of London.
Geography
Thatcham straddles t ...
,
Berkshire
Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...
,
Wall began his career at hometown club
Thatcham Town. He was part of the club's under-18 team that won the 2007–08
Football Conference Youth Alliance championship, beating
Ebbsfleet United
Ebbsfleet United Football Club is a professional football club based in Northfleet, Kent, England. As of the 2021–22 season, the club competes in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football.
The club was formed in 1946 from ...
under-18's 4–2 in the final.
He worked his way into the club's first-team at the age of 18, entering play as a substitute and scoring on his debut in a 6–1 win over
Andover
Andover may refer to:
Places Australia
* Andover, Tasmania
Canada
* Andover Parish, New Brunswick
* Perth-Andover, New Brunswick
United Kingdom
* Andover, Hampshire, England
** RAF Andover, a former Royal Air Force station
United States
* Ando ...
on 11 April 2009.
Maidenhead United
Wall's progress through Thatcham's youth team was noticed by nearby
Conference South
The National League South, formerly Conference South, is one of the second divisions of the National League in England, immediately below the top division National League. Along with National League North, it is in the second level of the N ...
side
Maidenhead United
Maidenhead United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. They are currently members of and have played at York Road since 1871, making it the 'oldest senior football ground continuously ...
, who signed him in the summer of 2009. In his
first season at the club, Wall was primarily used as an impact substitute, and he scored an injury-time winner in Maidenhead's 3–2 victory over local rivals
Basingstoke Town on 14 November 2009 after coming off the bench.
In total, Wall scored 10 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions during the 2009–10 season, with seven of these goals coming from appearances off the bench.
Wall played fewer games in the
2010–11
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
season, scoring only three league goals, but his performances led to interest from
Football League
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...
clubs. In July 2011, he went on trial with
League One side
Notts County, though a proposed transfer fell through despite a fee having been agreed between the two clubs.
[
] Maidenhead manager
Johnson Hippolyte admitted Wall was "devastated" that Notts County pulled out of the deal.
He signed a new contract with Maidenhead and went on to play in 35 matches during the
2011–12 season, scoring nine league goals as the club finished in mid-table.
Wall had his most successful season during the
2012–13
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
campaign, scoring at a rate of almost a goal every two games with 13 goals in 27 league matches. He won the Conference South Player of the Month award for February 2013 after scoring five goals in five matches.
Luton Town
Wall signed for
Conference Premier
The National League, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of the National League System and fifth-highest of the overall English football league system. It is the highest league that is semi-profess ...
side
Luton Town on
loan
In finance, a loan is the lending of money by one or more individuals, organizations, or other entities to other individuals, organizations, etc. The recipient (i.e., the borrower) incurs a debt and is usually liable to pay interest on that d ...
from Maidenhead on 1 March 2013, with a view to a permanent transfer taking place later in the year.
He became the first signing of new Luton manager
John Still
John Still (c. 1543 – 26 February 1607/1608) was Master of two Cambridge colleges and then, from 1593, Bishop of Bath and Wells. He enjoyed considerable fame as an English preacher and disputant. He was formerly reputed to be the author of an ...
, who had previously scouted and taken him on trial while managing
Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club is a professional association football club based in Dagenham, Greater London, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football league system. Often known simply as Dag ...
in
League Two
The English Football League Two (often referred to as League Two for short or Sky Bet League Two for sponsorship purposes, and known as the Football League Two from 2004 until 2016) is the third and lowest division of the English Football Lea ...
.
[ Wall scored his first goals for Luton with a ]brace
Brace(s) or bracing may refer to:
Medical
* Orthopaedic brace, a device used to restrict or assist body movement
** Back brace, a device limiting motion of the spine
*** Milwaukee brace, a kind of back brace used in the treatment of spinal cur ...
in a 2–0 win over Ebbsfleet United
Ebbsfleet United Football Club is a professional football club based in Northfleet, Kent, England. As of the 2021–22 season, the club competes in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football.
The club was formed in 1946 from ...
on 18 April 2013. After impressing in his loan spell, he signed a permanent two-year contract with Luton a week later.
Wall was given the number 10 shirt for Luton's 2013–14 season, but initially struggled to adapt to full-time football, picking up a succession of injuries that kept him from breaking into the first-team. In a 2–0 defeat to Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...
on 13 September 2013, Wall received a red card for a dangerous tackle only a few minutes after entering play as a substitute. He was banned for three games, but scored upon his return to the team, also as a substitute, hitting a late 25-yard winning goal in a dramatic 4–3 victory over FC Halifax Town on 5 October 2013. Further injuries persisted, though Wall did take part in Luton's FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a men's football knockout cup competition run by and named after the English Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams. The compet ...
games, scoring in a 2–2 draw with Cambridge United on 11 January 2014.
With his game time limited due to the goalscoring form of Paul Benson
Paul Andrew Benson (born 12 October 1979) is an English semi-professional footballer and coach who plays as a striker for club Bedford Town.
Career Dagenham & Redbridge
Born in Southend, Essex, Benson was on the books of Southend United as ...
and Andre Gray
Andre Anthony Gray (born 26 June 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Super League Greece club Aris. Born in England, he represents the Jamaica national team.
A product of the Shrewsbury Town youth system, Gray came ...
, Luton loaned Wall to fellow Conference side Dartford
Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent, England. It is located south-east of Central London and
is situated adjacent to the London Borough of Bexley to its west. To its north, across the Thames estuary, is Thurrock in ...
for one month on 17 January 2014. His presence had an immediate impact as Dartford picked up 10 points from a possible 12 with Wall in the team, leading to his loan being extended for another month. Luton allowed Dartford to extend Wall's loan for a further month in mid-March, but opted to recall him only a few weeks later after he had scored six goals in 11 games. Wall played a part in Luton's final four games of the 2013–14 season, scoring twice, as the club won the Conference Premier title and promotion to the Football League
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...
with a club-record 101 points.
Wall's playing time was limited during the 2014–15 season, though he did score a late winning goal in a local derby with Stevenage
Stevenage ( ) is a large town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, about north of London. Stevenage is east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1(M), between Letchworth Garden City to the north and Welwyn Garden City to the south. In 1946, Stevena ...
, and he was sent on loan to Conference Premier
The National League, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of the National League System and fifth-highest of the overall English football league system. It is the highest league that is semi-profess ...
side Bristol Rovers in November 2014. He returned to Luton just over a month later, but featured in only a handful of games.[ In May 2015 it was announced that Wall's contract would not be renewed.]
Bromley
On 1 June 2015, Wall signed for newly promoted National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...
team Bromley
Bromley is a large town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is south-east of Charing Cross, and had an estimated population of 87,889 as of 2011.
Originally part of Kent, Bromley became a market town, char ...
. He scored on his league debut for the Ravens as they beat Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...
3–1 on the opening day of the 2015–16 season. Wall was released from his contract at Bromley in January 2017 after suffering numerous injuries.
Hungerford Town
Wall signed for Hungerford Town
Hungerford Town Football Club is a semi-professional Football club (association football), football club based in Hungerford, Berkshire, England. Affiliated to the Berks & Bucks Football Association, they are currently members of and play at B ...
for the 2017–18 season.
Dartford (second spell)
On 20 June 2018, Wall signed for Dartford
Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent, England. It is located south-east of Central London and
is situated adjacent to the London Borough of Bexley to its west. To its north, across the Thames estuary, is Thurrock in ...
. However, on 31 July – just four days before the start of the 2018/19 season – it was announced that Wall had left the club.
Concord Rangers (first spell)
On 1 August 2018, Wall – having been released by Dartford the previous day – signed for fellow National League South
The National League South, formerly Conference South, is one of the second divisions of the National League in England, immediately below the top division National League. Along with National League North, it is in the second level of the N ...
side Concord Rangers
Concord Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Canvey Island in Essex, England. The club currently compete in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football, and play their home matches at Thames Road ...
. Wall spent one season with Concord, where he scored 21 goals in 34 games.
Hemel Hempstead Town
Wall followed departed Concord manager Sammy Moore to Hemel Hempstead Town for the 2019–20 season.
Wall did not have the best of times at Hemel Hempstead and it was announced on 10 January 2020 that the club agreed to terminate his contract.
Woking
On 14 January 2020, it was announced that Wall would be joining National League Woking
Woking ( ) is a town and borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in northwest Surrey, England, around from central London. It appears in Domesday Book as ''Wochinges'' and its name probably derives from that of a Anglo-Saxon settlement o ...
for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.
Concord Rangers (second spell)
On 21 June 2020, Wall decided to return to his former club Concord Rangers for the 2020–21 season. Wall made his first start back with Concord in the FA Trophy semi-final against Halesowen, where he scored an 80th minute winner in a 2–1 victory to send Concord to Wembley for the first time in their history.
Havant & Waterlooville
Wall joined Havant & Waterlooville
Havant & Waterlooville Football Club is a professional football club based in Havant, Hampshire, England. The club participates in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football, after relegation from the National League in the 20 ...
for the 2021-22 season. He was released at the end of the season.
Dartford (third spell)
On 25 June 2022, Wall signed again for Dartford
Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent, England. It is located south-east of Central London and
is situated adjacent to the London Borough of Bexley to its west. To its north, across the Thames estuary, is Thurrock in ...
.
Career statistics
Honours
Luton Town
*Conference Premier
The National League, known as the Vanarama National League for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of the National League System and fifth-highest of the overall English football league system. It is the highest league that is semi-profess ...
: 2013–14[
Concord Rangers
*]FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a men's football knockout cup competition run by and named after the English Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams. The compet ...
runner-up: 2019–20
Individual
*Conference South
The National League South, formerly Conference South, is one of the second divisions of the National League in England, immediately below the top division National League. Along with National League North, it is in the second level of the N ...
Player of the Month: February 2013
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wall, Alex
1990 births
Living people
People from Thatcham
Footballers from Berkshire
English men's footballers
Men's association football forwards
Thatcham Town F.C. players
Maidenhead United F.C. players
Luton Town F.C. players
Dartford F.C. players
Bristol Rovers F.C. players
Bromley F.C. players
Concord Rangers F.C. players
Hemel Hempstead Town F.C. players
Havant & Waterlooville F.C. players
Southern Football League players
National League (English football) players
English Football League players