| Sharp as a tack and an unquestionably tidy finisher, Luton Town centre forward Paul Walsh got his chance on the international stage as a 20 year old in the summer of 1983 when Bobby Robson called him from the periphery into an experimental squad which went off on a jolly in Australia prior to some final, crucial qualifers for the following summer's European Championships. Walsh featured in all three games against the hosts, scoring the only goal when making his full debut in the second match, but was deemed too risky when the real business resumed in the autumn. A tremendous season domestically did not warrant a recall until after England's interest in qualification was abruptly halted, and Robson began looking to the future. Walsh played in a chronic 2-0 defeat to France in Paris (the photo above is during the game), partnering his Luton strike partner Brian Stein, and then featured in another shoddy defeat in the 1984 Home Internationals against Wales. Liverpool liked him and bought him the same month, but Robson had seen enough, and never called him back. (Matthew Rudd) |