Colchester United goalkeeper Sam Walker says he will be “eternally grateful” to Ademola Bankole for helping him to improve in all aspects of the game.

Bankole, nicknamed George, saw his nine-year stint as the U’s goalkeeper coach came to an end when he left the Weston Homes Community Stadium this summer and was replaced by player-coach, Rene Gilmartin.

Walker benefited from Bankole’s coaching for four and a half years following his switch from Premier League giants Chelsea in 2013, initially on loan.

And the 25-year-old shot-stopper says he feels indebted to the former Nigeria international for his long-term guidance.

Walker told the Daily Gazette: “I’m incredibly grateful for the years that I had with George coaching me and everything he did for me.

“He’s someone who I’ll regard as a lifelong friend now.

“We hit it off immediately when I came here and he really took me under his wing.

“He was not only a great coach; he was also a great mentor both on and off the pitch.

“George turned me from a boy to a man, even though I wouldn’t say I came to Colchester as a boy as I’d played a certain amount of games before I came here.

“But he certainly progressed me into an experienced young goalkeeper that I consider myself to be and he was a massive part of that, not only on the pitch but both physically and mentally off the pitch.

“He improved me in all aspects of the game and I’m eternally grateful to him for all he did.”

Walker says he is enjoying working under new coach Gilmartin, following his arrival from Watford earlier this month.

“It’s going really well with Rene so far,” said Walker, who has made 166 league and cup appearances for Colchester.

“We’ve got very similar thoughts on goalkeeping and on life in general and we’re very similar in terms of size, so I think it’s going to work really well.

“I’ve enjoyed all of his sessions so far and working with him in the gym too, off the pitch – we even share a similar interest in golf!

“Reg has made the decision to concentrate on his coaching early which is admirable really.

“He’s setting himself up for a long coaching career in the game and from what I’ve seen so far, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if that happened.

“Goalkeeping is such a unique position – you end up working with many different coaches over many different years.

“I still have things that I took from my very first goalkeeper coach at Chelsea.

“You have to go into these things with a positive mindset and look for it to bring about small percentage changes in my game.

“I’m at the age now where I’ve played in a lot of games and I’m not going to change anything drastically with my technique and style of goalkeeping.

“But if I can add one per cent here and one per cent there, it all adds up and ultimately improves me as a player.”

Colchester continue their pre-season programme with a trip to play Braintree Town tomorrow.

The U’s have won all four of their friendlies so far, without conceding a goal as they build up for their League Two curtain-raiser at Accrington Stanley, on August 5.

Walker added: “The clean sheet stat is particularly pleasing and it’s all we could ask for, so far.

“We’ve still got more than two weeks until we play Accy, so it’s all positive so far.

“I don’t think you’ll find a footballer who likes pre-season to be honest but so far, it’s been fantastic and really enjoyable.

“We had a great trip away which was really good for the squad, not only for the football side of things but also in terms of bonding, too.

“We’ve continued that spirit and belief that we had last year and everything looks so positive at the moment.

“I haven’t really got a bad thing to say about anything at the moment.

“We’ve got three more great games in pre-season to look forward to and then we crack on with Accy and then an exciting week after that with the Villa game and then our first home league game, too.”