# Joe Walsh (footballer, born 1992)

Joseph Kevin Walsh (born 13 May 1992) is a Welsh professional footballer who most recently played as a defender for Lincoln City.

## Club career
### Swansea City

Walsh was born in Cardiff, South Glamorgan. He joined Swansea as an under-16 player after previously playing for Cardiff College Celts. In his first season, he helped the Swans to FAW Youth Cup glory against his hometown club, Cardiff City, at their old Ninian Park ground. He was drafted into the first-team squad for a match against Derby County for Swansea in February 2010 as cover following the late injury sustained by Garry Monk. Walsh was handed his first professional deal with the club prior to the 2010–11 season. He made his first team debut on 10 August 2010 in a 3–0 win over Barnet in the League Cup.

### Crawley Town

Walsh joined Crawley Town following his release from Premier League Swansea City at the end of the 2011–12 season. He was voted the club's Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year for the 2013–14 season and ahead of the 2014–15 season was rewarded with the club captaincy. In total, Walsh made 110 appearances in all competitions for the club, and scored 9 goals.

### Milton Keynes Dons

After a short spell on loan, newly promoted Championship club Milton Keynes Dons confirmed on 28 May 2015 that Walsh had signed a two-year deal at the club for an undisclosed fee. Walsh scored his first goal for Milton Keynes Dons on 16 January 2016 in a 1–0 home victory over Reading. On 18 August 2017, Walsh signed a new contract keeping him at the club until June 2020.

### Lincoln City

On 13 August 2020, it was announced that Walsh would become Lincoln City's seventh signing of the summer, following the expiry of his contract with Milton Keynes Dons. He would eventually make his debut on 17 October 2020, starting the game away to Fleetwood Town helping to keep a clean sheet. After a run of 4 starts and 4 clean-sheets, Walsh would injure his knee ruling him out for up to 12 weeks. He would sign a new long-term contract, less than a year at the club on 28 March 2021. His first goal for the club came against Morecambe on 19 November 2022. On 10 May 2023, it was announced in the clubs retained list that Walsh would be leaving the club following the expiration of his contract.

## International career

In January 2013, Walsh was selected in the Wales U21 squad for the friendly match against Iceland on 6 February 2013. In October 2014 he was called into the Wales senior squad for the Euro 2016 qualifying matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus. On 8 November 2016, Walsh was called up once again to the Wales senior squad for their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Serbia.

## Career statistics

    As of matches played 10 April 2023
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Swansea City | 2010–11 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Swansea City | 2011–12 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Swansea City | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Crawley Town | 2012–13 | League One | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 35 | 3 |
| Crawley Town | 2013–14 | League One | 39 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 5 |
| Crawley Town | 2014–15 | League One | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 1 |
| Crawley Town | Total | Total | 97 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 110 | 9 |
| Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 2014–15 | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2015–16 | Championship | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 1 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2016–17 | League One | 39 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 2 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2017–18 | League One | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2018–19 | League Two | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 2 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2019–20 | League One | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | Total | Total | 123 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 145 | 5 |
| Lincoln City | 2020–21 | League One | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| Lincoln City | 2021–22 | League One | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Lincoln City | 2022–23 | League One | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Lincoln City | Total | Total | 44 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 52 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 249 | 12 | 17 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 309 | 15 |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Appearances in Football League Trophy.
* ↑ Appearance(s) in League One Play-offs & Football League Trophy

## Honours

Milton Keynes Dons
* EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2018–19
Individual
* Crawley Town Player of the Year: 2013–14
* Crawley Town Young Player of the Year: 2013–14