Norman Walsh was born in Daubhill, Bolton, on July 20, 1931, the youngest child in a family of three brothers and a stepbrother.
Leaving school in 1945 at the age of 14, Norman followed in the footsteps of his shoemaker father, Williams, into the shoe industry and began an apprenticeship with J.W. Foster & Sons in Bolton. His progress was recognized early and was so outstanding that in 1948 he was selected to manufacture the "Fosters De Luxe'', the spikes used by the British Summer Olympians and many other athletes who competed in the Games. His name and work were recognized and sought after by many professional athletes around the world.
In 1954, Norman was selected to make shoes for Roger Bannister for his famous and successful attempt to become the first person ever to run a mile in less than four minutes.
Norman continued in the sporting world, making the shoes worn by Nat Lofthouse in the 1958 FA Cup Final for Bolton Wanderers FC against Manchester United FC, where he scored both winning goals. In 1961, Norman amicably parted ways with the Foster brothers and established a brand under his own name - Norman Walsh Footwear.
Throughout the 1960s, Norman Walsh honed his skills and continued to produce specialized athletic footwear in an incredibly wide range, all handmade for his customers' individual needs. Located on the edge of the Peak and Pennine Districts, Norman developed the first mountain running shoe, the Pennine Adder, in the late 1960s. It was used by many local climbers and runners in the mountainous regions of northern England, attracting the attention of British fell running athlete Pete Bland.
In 1970, with the formation of the Fell Runners Association, Norman and Pete teamed up to develop the first fellrunning shoe, the Walsh PB, which was so well suited to the harsh athletic environment for which it was designed that it became an instant success. In 1981, mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington and his team decided to train with the Walsh PB and use it in the first stages of the successful first ascent of Mount Kongur.