Non-League and Academy football writer

Walter Capango Figueira is a versatile and highly creative player with great skill, and an eye for goal. From South London, Walter’s footballing career (so far) has taken him from Chelsea’s Academy set-up to Europe, and also in this time he has made a real name for himself in the non-League, playing for a number of non-League sides. Now at 28 years of age Walter Figueira is currently playing for Isthmian League Premier Division side Haringey Borough. One of my favourite players in non-League, Walter played for one of the teams that I support, in Irish side Derry City in 2020, but more on that later. Walter’s career as a professional footballer started at Premier League side Chelsea’s academy (he had previously been with Hampton & Richmond Borough), where he was part of a very talented Chelsea Under 18 side, which included current Manchester City player Nathan Aké. The forward would also play for the Chelsea Under 21 side on occasions, during his time with them, as well as playing for Brentford at youth level, on a youth development/work experience loan, before being released by Chelsea in 2013. Having been unfortunate with injuries at times, during his scholarship years with Chelsea, Walter would later join Hayes & Yeading United, then in the sixth tier of English football, after his time with Chelsea had come to an end.

After spending some time with Hayes & Yeading United, Walter moved to Greece to join Greek side Platanias, in the top tier of Greek football. In what would have undoubtedly been a great experience at that stage of his footballing career, Walter would as well as playing for Platanias’ first team on occasions, would also spend some time out on loan with Acharnaikos. Following his return to England in 2016, the Londoner would join Bognor Regis Town, before he spent some time with non-League clubs, such as Chessington & Hook United, and later North London side Wingate & Finchley, in 2017. A good spell with a good amount of playing time followed, with Walter having a good season with Portuguese side Moura, during the 2017/18 season. More recent spells with Dulwich Hamlet and later a very productive move to Surrey club Merstham, where Walter scored a really good amount of goals, followed, before he moved to Ireland in 2019. It was with Waterford that Walter Figueira’s skill and ability on the ball would have caught the attention of a number of top League of Ireland sides. Sides such as Derry City, who in 2020 Walter joined, for the 2020 season.

Before Walter’s move to Derry City, I had already seen him play on a decent number of occasions, and I was always impressed with how he played the game. However, it was during the shortened 2020 season with Derry City, a season that I got to watch the majority of Derry’s games in, which made me appreciate as a football fan, just how talented a footballer that Walter is, having watched him play consistently. In what was a difficult season for Derry City, as they finished the 18 game League of Ireland season in seventh place, with just 20 points from those 18 games (they finished just one point above the relegation zone), Walter was one of the real standout performers for Derry. He was in my opinion very good for Derry City that season, as he showed that real creative side of his game, as well as chipping in by scoring four goals, and also providing four assists from just 19 competitive appearances for Derry that season. Playing in a variety of forward positions for Derry City that season, Figueira’s versatility was impressive, and I really thought that he covered the forward positions really well. So tricky and difficult to defend against when he has the ball, Walter’s excellent close ball control and technique made him a very difficult opponent on the pitch. He is also a player capable of producing real moments of quality in games.

I recall well Walter Figueira’s very impressive performances for Derry, against fellow League of Ireland sides such as Finn Harps, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers and Waterford, games where his quality on the ball really showed. However, Walter is also a player who works really hard off the ball, regardless of where he plays. A good presser off the ball who always gives 100% out on the pitch, I really like the way in which Walter approaches one v one situations out on the flanks, where his really good dribbling ability allows him to go past players really well. However, he also leads the line very well, in my opinion, and he scores goals. Becoming a fan favourite with Derry City supporters during the 2020 season, much of which was played behind closed doors, I was disappointed to see Walter depart for fellow League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers for the following 2021 season. He would make 36 competitive appearances for Sligo Rovers during that season, scoring two goals and providing one assist. I saw maybe five or six Sligo games during that season, and I thought that regardless of the statistics for goals/assists, that Walter looked really good in the games that I saw him in, and once again that skill and creative side to his game was really good.

Walter would return to England once again, following the conclusion of Sligo Rovers’ 2020 season. Moves to Isthmian League Premier Division sides Kingstonian and Carshalton Athletic have followed for Walter, before he trialled with National League South side Yeovil Town this summer. However, he has since signed for Isthmian Premier Division side Haringey Borough this season, and he has scored one goal for them so far this season. I’m a regular visitor to Coles Park to watch matches, and I’ve already seen Walter play on a good number of occasions so far this season. His last start for Haringey Borough came against Redbridge in an FA Trophy first round tie, last month. It was a game that Walter would lead the line in. I think that the North London side have done really well to sign Figueira, and I think that in good time he will really flourish for Tom Loizou’s side. He is a player with pace, great skill and agility on the ball, as well as being a fine finisher in front of goal. Haringey are currently in 21st place in the Isthmian Premier Division, however, the great experience that Walter has of playing football both in England and abroad at a very good level, will in my opinion prove invaluable for Haringey Borough as the season progresses. Walter is a quality footballer, and I wish him and Haringey Borough all the very best for the remainder of the 2023/24 season.