Whitby Town appoint Paul Walker as new club secretary
Whitby Town have announced the appointment of Paul Walker as the club’s new Secretary, bringing with him a wealth of experience in football administration, coaching and community development.
Paul has been involved in football throughout his life, playing at school and county level before progressing through Manchester City's junior teams and representing the Royal Air Force. He continued playing into his 40s with Fishburn Park in the Teesside League, demonstrating a lifelong passion for the game.
His connection with Fishburn Park spans almost three decades, during which he undertook a wide range of roles including Secretary, Treasurer, Chair of the Disciplinary Committee, Coach, Reserve Team Manager and Assistant First Team Manager.
During this time, Paul helped guide the club to two County Cup victories and several other honours, as well as playing a key role in a memorable County Cup fixture against Whitby Town that went to extra-time in front of a crowd of nearly 500.
Off the pitch, Paul has made a significant contribution to grassroots football development. He was instrumental in securing land to provide Fishburn Park with a permanent home and successfully obtained funding from The FA and Sport England.
His efforts also saw the club grow from two senior men’s teams into a thriving organisation that included seven junior teams and a girls’ team. He introduced key governance structures, including policies on conduct, inclusion and safeguarding, while ensuring all coaching staff met FA compliance standards.
Paul has also contributed to the game as a referee at junior level and played a role in organising community events, including the inaugural Battle of Britain Trophy charity match during his time at RAF Fylingdales.
More recently, he has been managing and coaching Whitby Town Walking Football Club since 2021.
In his new role, Paul will also serve as the main point of contact for the club’s volunteers, co-ordinating matchday and operational duties while supporting and strengthening the club’s volunteer network.
Professionally, Paul brings extensive experience in administration and leadership. His career has included serving as a Police Sergeant with responsibility for staffing and operational deployment, as well as working as a Home Administrator in the care sector, overseeing HR, budgets, training and external partnerships.
The club would also like to place on record its sincere thanks to outgoing Secretary Stephen Shields for his hard work and commitment during his time in the role, and wishes him every success in the future.