Dave Walton

Manager Dario Gradi made his feelings clear that he wished to keep Walton at the club and offered him a new contract. The defender rejected and instead signed a two-year deal with Derby County. However, an injury during pre–season left the Englishman out until October where he made his début in a 2–1 defeat at Norwich City. Walton failed to establish himself in George Burley's first team and was soon loaned out to Stockport County where he made seven league appearances.

After a year at Pride Park, the defender had his contract cancelled by mutual consent. He was soon picked up by his old club Shrewsbury. He added a further 38 league appearances and helped his side survive relegation from the football league. At the start of the 2005–06 season, he was given the role of club captain. Unfortunately, Walton's campaign of marred by injuries and in December 2005 he was forced to retire after sustaining a knee problem.

In 1997, Walton was signed by Crewe Alexandra for £500,000, making him the most expensive player in the Railwaymen's history only for it to be broken a year later when Rodney Jack was signed for £650,000 from Torquay United. The defender spent six seasons at the club, the longest time he had spent at a club in his career, where he made over 150 league appearances for the south Cheshire club despite a number of injuries. In his last season at the club, Walton helped Crewe to the runners-up spot and promotion in Division Two after making 41 league appearances.

David Walton (born 10 April 1973 in Bedlington, Northumberland) is an English retired footballer who is remembered for his exploits at Shrewsbury Town and Crewe Alexandra where he made over 100 league appearances for both clubs.