Born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Walsh started his career under manager Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest.
He made his league debut for Forest on 29 November 1980 as a substitute in a 1–1 draw at Coventry City aged 18.
Walsh was picked for the Scotland national team but never played for the full side.
A very popular player with supporters, Walsh remained with the club until 1996 to complete a decade of service to Charlton before retiring.
This biographical article related to association football in Scotland, about a midfielder born in the 1960s, is a stub.